The borough president for Brooklyn criticized New York City undercover police detectives after footage surfaced of them accosting and handcuffing a US Postal Service worker while he was on duty, New York Magazine reported.
"If they would do that to him in his postal uniform, they would do it to any person of color in that community," said Eric Adams concerning the officers' encounter with Glenn Grays in Crown Heights last week.
The footage begins with two of the officers standing in front of Gray, who is outside a building holding a package, presumably for delivery. Grays had reportedly yelled at the officers after their unmarked vehicle nearly hit Grays' USPS truck.
The officers ask Grays to retrieve his identification from the truck. When he refuses, they begin handcuffing them. At one point, one of the officers says, "You're going to get hurt if you don't give me your f*cking hands." He is then led away while witnesses criticize the detectives. Grays' work vehicle is seen on the street with no one to replace him at the wheel.
Gothamist reported that Grays was issued a ticket for resisting arrest, which Adams said indicated that the department was "sweeping the incident under the rug."
"It is not against the law to voice outrage after almost being struck by a vehicle," Adams said. "This could have been another Eric Garner situation if Glenn hadn't responded as calmly as he did."
Adams said he would discuss the incident with Police Chief Bill Bratton.
The video, as posted by the New York Daily News, can be seen below.
