A video has emerged of an NYPD cop punching a woman in the face before arresting her in what could be an example of excessive force. Tamani Crum, 19, was knocked backward in an instant. Her head is seen slamming against the sidewalk before the police put handcuffs on her. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in Harlem on West 136th Street by Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard.
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Elvin James, Murder Suspect, Was Carrying a Gun
The police had come to arrest Elvin James, 22, for attempted murder. A crowd was gathered during the arrest. Elvin allegedly was holding a gun, which made the scuffle more serious.
When Tamani went to intervene and talk to the police, they initially pushed her away. But her reaction was to swat at the cop’s arm with her own. Officer Kendo Kinsey immediately slugged her. He sent her flying. Her body contorted backward before her head hit the ground.
People can be heard in the background exclaiming, “Why would you do that?!” Tamani Crum is a tiny woman and by no means seemed physically threatening. She was wearing a crop top and a form-fitting mini skirt. She also didn’t appear to have any weapons on her person. But the police said that intervening in an arrest involving a suspect with a gun is what created a precedent for the violent reaction.
Worse, now the Detectives’ Endowment Association is threatening to file a civil suit against Tamani Crum on behalf of Officer Kinsey.
“Criminals in NY have grown accustomed to there being no consequences for their dangerous, illegal actions — but when you assault a New York City Detective in order to interfere with an arrest of a man armed with a gun there are repercussions,” said DEA President Paul DiGiacomo.
“As the DEA explores a possible civil suit on behalf of our dedicated member against the woman who attacked him, we urge politicians to open their eyes and see the public safety disaster they’ve created.”
DEA President DiGiacomo is Threatening to Sue Tamani Crum
Upon hearing that a Civil Rights group was going to be filing a civil suit against the NYPD, DiGiacomo later told DailyMail.com that “They (the civil rights group) said they’re going to be filing a civil suit. We’re going to be looking to file a civil suit as well, against the woman.”
Civil rights activists, as well as friends and family of Tamani, are in an uproar about Officer Kinsey’s reaction.
Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network’s New York City chapter said Kinsey “brazenly punched an unarmed woman to the ground.”
Officer Kendo Kinsey Has at Least 6 Complaints Against Him
They added that, “Records now public under a landmark 2020 law show Kinsey has had at least six complaints in the last 11 years, two of which have been substantiated.”
Tamani Crum was initially arrested for assaulting an officer, resisting arrest, and obstructing governmental administration. However, she was arraigned solely for obstructing a governmental administration and set free without bail the next day.
Elvin James was charged with attempted murder as a hate crime in the second degree although details of the hate crime have not yet been made public. He was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a firearm for firing at a crowd on West 163rd Street earlier this month.
Another woman, Faith Harrell, 27, was arrested Tuesday for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. A third unnamed 26-year-old woman was also summoned to court for allegedly spitting on a police officer during the scuffle.