A former NYPD detective is facing criminal charges after prosecutors say he repeatedly punched a handcuffed man inside a holding cell at a Carroll Gardens police precinct earlier this year.
Raymond Ng, 51, who was assigned to the 76th Precinct detective squad, was arraigned Tuesday in Brooklyn Supreme Court on an indictment charging him with second- and third-degree assault, official misconduct, second- and third-degree menacing and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Ng was released without bail and ordered to return to court on Oct. 28, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said the alleged incident involved a prisoner who was already restrained inside the 76th Precinct stationhouse in Carroll Gardens.
“We expect our police personnel to carry themselves with integrirt and respect for others, even when provoke. This defendant allegedly failed that duty and violelntly attacked a handcuffed and helpless prisoner inside a police precinct. This is unaceptable and criminal conduct for which we will now seek to hold him accountable.”
According to prosecutors, the incident occurred on the morning of Jan. 19, when a 49-year-old man with no prior convictions went to the 76th Precinct to surrender on assault charges. He had been instructed to report to the station by a detective who had contacted him, but that detective was unavailable when he arrived.
Ng then processed the man’s arrest and placed him in handcuffs, prosecutors said.
Videos from inside the precinct allegedly show Ng bringing the man into a holding cell and beginning to remove his handcuffs. He then stopped, pushed the man into the cell and left him restrained, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
As Ng closed the cell door, prosecutors said, the man attempted to spit at him and pretended that he was going to spit.
Ng allegedly responded by entering the cell and attempting to kick the man before striking him repeatedly. Prosecutors said the detective was holding a padlock in his right hand while allegedly punching the man.
The video allegedly shows Ng pushing the man against the wall and cell bars before continuing to punch him in the face with his right hand. Other officers eventually intervened, according to prosecutors.
The man suffered an orbital fracture, facial abrasion, bleeding, bruising and pain in his head and right shoulder. He was taken to New York Presbyterian/Methodist Hospital, where he was treated and later released.
The assault case that had initially brought the man to the precinct has since been dismissed.
Ng joined the NYPD in 2015. Following the incident, he was demoted from detective to police officer and placed on modified duty. He was ordered to report to court on Oct. 28.