Adams says NYPD 'took appropriate action' during stun gun arrest at migrant shelter in Queens
JAMAICA, Queens (WABC) -- Mayor Eric Adams said two police officers had a confrontation with an alleged drunk man holding a child during a domestic violence incident at a city-run shelter in Queens.
The incident happened Friday night inside 148-18 Archer Ave.
Video of the altercation, first obtained by the New York Times, showed police used a stun gun, punched him and wrestled him to the floor.
The man, believed to be a migrant from Venezuela, said he was not drunk, according to the Times. He said that the incident started when he brought home dinner for his family and was struck by a shelter employee in the face.
However, police say the 47-year-old man, Yanny Cordero, was intoxicated and threatening staff members while holding the 1-year-old child.
Officials with the NYPD said they gave the man multiple warnings and commands to put the child down. That is when a 22-year-old woman, Andrea Parrar, interfered with the arrest, police said.
A police source told Eyewitness News the deployment of the stun gun was what is known as a "dry stun," in which police hold the taser to the suspect and pull the trigger. No probes are fired, thus eliminating any risk to the child.
The child was not harmed and ACS was notified and responded.
Adams spoke out about the incident Tuesday and said the priority was to get the child out of the man's hands.
"They wanted to get that child out of that gentleman's hand, after warning them several times, asking him to turn over the child," Adams said. "Several times he refused to. He was violent, he was volatile. They had to take that necessary action. And based on our review, those officers took appropriate action."
On Tuesday, the mayor's office says the family is back together after they were reunited Monday night. They requested a new shelter and have been given a new placement in Brooklyn.
Cordero was charged with resisting arrest, acting in a manner injurious to a child, obstructing government administration and disorderly conduct fighting.
Parrar was charged with resisting arrest, obstructing government administration and disorderly conduct fighting.
New York Immigration Coalition released a statement saying they are troubled by what happened.
"We are troubled by the video taken at a migrant shelter in Queens that shows NYPD officers responding to an asylum seeker with violence, while he is holding his one year old baby," said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO. "Individuals in the City's care must be actually cared for - and not hurt - by staff or police. The City must hire shelter staff who are culturally competent and bilingual or multilingual to ensure that communication breakdowns don't lead to avoidable misunderstandings that escalate into violence. Everyone deserves due process, and we call on Mayor Adams to stop spreading inflammatory, unproven information about this case. The Queens District Attorney's office must complete a thorough investigation that looks into the brute force used in this incident."
ALSO READ: Mayor Adams says he supports deporting migrants who commit serious crimes
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