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New York City Council Member Chi Ossé has officially filed a complaint against the New York Police Department officer who was shown throwing him to the ground and arresting him during a demonstration on April 22.
On April 22, Ossé joined a group of demonstrators outside of his constituent Carmella Charrington’s family home in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy neighborhood to stop what advocates have called a deed theft eviction. NYPD officers arrested Ossé along with other demonstrators for attempting to prevent the planned eviction. Video footage of the arrest posted to social media soon after showed the officer grabbing the 28-year-old council member before and forcing him to the ground to handcuff him.
“Council Member Chi Ossé was just arrested while defending his constituent, Carmella Charrington, from eviction,” the caption for the video, posted to Ossé’s account, reads. “This is the result of deed theft and the ongoing displacement of Black homeowners in Bed-Stuy.”
In the complaint obtained by Politico, Ossé alleges that the officer used excessive force, through which he received a concussion. The Civilian Complaint Review Board that investigates instances of police misconduct confirmed to the outlet that it is reviewing the complaint.
“My rights were violated, but more importantly, my responsibility to my community and constituents demands a fact-finding,” the 36th District Council Member told Politico.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the video of the arrest “incredibly disturbing” at a press conference shortly after Ossé was detained. Other city officials such as City Council Speaker Julie Menin also condemned the arrest.
“When I saw the video, it’s obviously of deep, deep concern,” Menin said during a press conference outside the 79th precinct following the arrest. “He was thrown to the ground, and as you heard from him directly, he sustained some injuries. That is not acceptable. He was peacefully protesting.”
Mamdani announced the launch of the city’s first Deed Theft Prevention Office two days after the incident, meant to protect citizens from having generational family homes stolen through nefarious means like quitclaim scams and fraudulently filed property transfer documents. This act of obtaining a deed through illegal or coercive means, has skyrocketed in recent years, especially among Black and Latinx New Yorkers.
“The theft of a home is the theft of a family’s future,” Mamdani said in a statement announcing the new office. “Deed theft preys on the New Yorkers who can least afford it. Today, we are bringing the full force of city government to bear to stop it – to protect homeowners, defend generational wealth and make clear that this city will not tolerate the exploitation of our communities.”
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