PARMA, Ohio (WOIO) — A judge sentenced a former Brooklyn police sergeant to jail for assaulting a woman while she was handcuffed.
It’s a story 19 Investigates has been covering since January.
Judge Deanna O’Donnell played the complete body camera video before announcing her sentence.
Brooklyn police sergeant gets jail time for punching restrained woman.(Brooklyn Police Department)
Former Brooklyn Police Sergeant Paul Stein received the maximum sentence for misdemeanor assault — 180 days in jail with 90 suspended.
Former Brooklyn police sergeant escorted out of courtroom after being found guilty of assaulting handcuffed woman.(WOIO)
Judge O’Donnell found him guilty for punching a woman last September.
Stein expresses remorse
Before sentencing, Stein expressed remorse, saying he regrets what he did.
His attorney, Dominic Vitantonio, asked the judge for leniency, saying his client has already lost his law enforcement career and is now working as a plumber.
“For someone like Paul Stein this is the most — and this isn’t poor Paul Stein day, it’s a reality — the most difficult day of his life,” said Vitantonio.
Judge O’Donnell said she empathized with the stressful and demanding assignments associated with police work, but officers must be held to a higher standard.
She said the sentencing decision was a difficult one to make.
“And so, I struggle with this because I get it, Mr. Vitantonio, I ask myself like what would I have done?” O’Donnell said.
Victim too traumatized to attend
The special prosecutor read a victim’s statement before the court.
The woman said she was too traumatized to show up and face her attacker.
“I will feel fear every time I encounter a police officer in my daily life because of what Officer Stein did to me,” said Greg Gentile, Brooklyn special prosecutor, reading the victim’s statement.
Details of the incident
The incident happened Sept. 4 after police arrested the woman on an outstanding warrant for aggravated menacing.
When she arrived at the station, her hands were cuffed behind her back.
Officers said she was being belligerent and uncooperative, so they strapped her to a restraint chair.
The woman was only wearing socks and can be heard on video hollering at Stein numerous times to get off her feet.
“You’re hurting me, get off my feet!” the woman said.
When he didn’t, she spit in his face.
Video shows Stein delivering a series of five punches to her head.
Woman plans lawsuit, breaks silence after being punched by Brooklyn cop.(Brooklyn Police Department)
Stein was then fired and found guilty of assault.
The Brooklyn Police Department has declined to comment on this case.
When Stein is released from jail, he will be on probation for 24 months.
The woman has hired an attorney and plans to sue both Stein and the Brooklyn Police Department.
Need an investigation? Contact 19 Investigates with your request.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.