Manhattan DA investigating alleged assault of reporter by NY police during protests

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has launched an investigation after New York Police Department (NYPD) officers were accused of assaulting a Wall Street Journal reporter covering the protests over George Floyd’s death, the office confirmed to The Hill. 

“Our office has prosecuted dozens of uniformed officers for official misconduct and violence since 2010, and this longstanding tradition of independence and accountability will continue in the days and weeks ahead,” District Attorney Cyrus Vance said in a Monday statement.

“We are actively monitoring social media and other sources to identify investigative leads into claims of excessive force and we strongly encourage New Yorkers to share them with us,” he continued.

Wall Street Journal reporter Tyler Blint-Welsh tweeted Sunday that he lost his glasses and his ankle was “in searing pain” after “NYPD hit me in the face multiple times with riot shields and pushed me to the ground.” 

“I was backing away as request, with my hands up. My NYPD-issued press badge was clearly visible. I’m just sitting here crying. This sucks,” Blint-Welsh tweeted.  

Lost my glasses and my ankle is in searing pain after NYPD hit me in the face multiple times with riot shields and pushed me to the ground. I was backing away as request, with my hands up. My NYPD-issued press badge was clearly visible. I’m just sitting here crying. This sucks.

— Tyler Blint- Welsh (@tylergabriel_) June 1, 2020

New York Attorney General Letitia James responded to the reporter’s tweet asking him to report his allegations to her office.

Please report this to my office: Complaints@ag.ny.gov

— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) June 1, 2020

Floyd, an unarmed black man, died last week in Minneapolis after an officer knelt on his neck until he was unresponsive. The officer, Derek Chauvin, was fired and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter last week. 

Protests have erupted in cities across the country over Floyd’s death, and many journalists have faced violence and other consequences amid the ongoing demonstrations.

Garret Haake, an MSNBC and NBC News correspondent, was hit on air with what he said was a projectile, such as a rubber bullet. Last week, Minnesota state police arrested CNN reporter Omar Jimenez and his camera crew during a live report.

Updated 9:43 a.m.