Christian Zapata, a 37-year-old former NYPD sergeant, was convicted of attempted assault after he punched Jerome Collins over a dozen times during a response to a 911 call. Despite the violent altercation, where Collins posed no threat, he was acquitted of a more serious charge. The incident highlights issues of police conduct, particularly in sensitive situations involving mental health crises, as Collins's request for officers to wear facemasks escalated into violence, witnessed by his terrified family.
"You're interfering with the process, you're gonna end up under arrest," Zapata told him, according to body camera video footage released by Bragg's office.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg later said Collins posed 'no immediate danger or physical threat.'
A small scuffle broke out, and one officer grabbed Collins' wrists as Zapata launched punches at the victim's face - all while his girlfriend screamed, 'No! No!' in the background.
As the cops cuffed Collins, he told his girlfriend that things would be OK. 'You ain't gotta worry,' he told her. 'It's all right. It's all right.'
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