Two NYPD cops were injured in the early hours of Saturday morning while trying to subdue a suspect in Manhattan. Video footage of the incident, which occurred on the Lower East Side, shows the officers attempting to place the suspect, Shawndel Evans, 26, into a patrol vehicle in the pouring rain.
Evans, who stands at 6 feet and weighs 182 pounds, began to struggle and eventually toppled the officers to the pavement before trying to flee custody.
The incident sparked a cheer from some bystanders, who encouraged Evans to resist the officers. The officers struggled to keep their hold on Evans, but he managed to get to his feet, causing the officers to fall to the ground, with one apparently hitting his head on the pavement. The suspect then fled the scene, pulling up his pants and holding his jacket, as the injured officer lay prone on the street.
It is unclear what exactly led to the incident.
According to a witness, Evans approached the officers and asked to use one of their cell phones. In response, the officer allegedly told him to “Go f–k yourself,” prompting Evans to lash out, the witness claimed. However, the NYPD paints a different picture of how the encounter began. Evans became agitated while speaking to the officers and began to hit the windows of their marked police vehicle, causing damage, authorities contend.
Evans, a one-time college lacrosse player who graduated in 2019 from Thiel College with a criminal justice degree, had never been in trouble with the law before. His mother, Nicole Evans, 49, said her son was visiting a high school pal who lives in the city and may have asked cops to use a cellphone so he could locate his own phone.
The suspect was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault, two counts of obstructing governmental administration, two counts of harassment, two counts of disorderly conduct, and criminal mischief. He was remanded Saturday night after being given $5,000 cash bail at his arraignment.
The incident comes at a time when statistics show that officers are resigning from the NYPD at a record pace due to high stress, low pay, and little respect. The incident also highlights the dangers that police officers face while on duty and the importance of public support for law enforcement.
Since 2014, Benny A. King has been fully immersed in the world of combat sports. Starting with a blog about Greco Roman wrestling, Benny’s passion for combat sports has led him to explore various disciplines.