NYC Mayor Criticizes Police Conduct in Controversial Liquor Store Arrest Incident

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has strongly criticized a pair of NYPD detectives after a video surfaced showing them using excessive force on a man inside a Brooklyn liquor store during an arrest on Tuesday afternoon.

The detectives, who are part of the Brooklyn North narcotics unit, mistakenly thought the individual had just conducted a drug transaction as he fit a given description, according to information from the NYPD reported by the Daily Mail. Their profiles can be found on the NYPD’s official website.

Officials stated that the man was wearing clothing similar to that of a suspected dealer. However, he was not charged with any drug-related offenses, as it was later confirmed he had no involvement in the alleged drug sale.

The video, uploaded by Instagram user Sinistratm, shows the detectives assaulting the suspect by punching him in the face and torso, shoving him into a display of wine bottles, and further dragging, kicking, and stomping him while he lay on the floor.

The impact shattered wine bottles, resulting in a deep gash on the man’s leg, which started bleeding heavily. The video reveals a growing pool of blood on the floor.

‘The violence used by NYPD officers in this video is extremely disturbing and unacceptable,’ Mayor Mamdani wrote on X. 

‘Officers should never treat a person this way. The NYPD is conducting a full investigation into this incident.’

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch echoed the mayor’s statement and said the video was ‘deeply disturbing.’ She added that the detectives have been stripped of their badges and guns while the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau investigates.

Two NYPD detectives were caught on video brutalizing a man during an arrest in a liquor store in Brooklyn on Tuesday. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the video ‘disturbing’

The detectives were caught on camera repeatedly punching the suspect in the head and torso. They incorrectly believed he had sold drugs because he matched a description

The detectives could also be seen pushing the suspect into a shelf of wine bottles which shattered and slashed his leg

In the video, a crowd can be seen forming after the officers get the suspect to the ground, and witnesses can be heard chastising the detectives and calling them ‘pigs.’

The detectives threatened to arrest multiple witnesses while ordering the man to put his arms behind his back and shouting at him to ‘stop resisting.’ The suspect spent about seven minutes on the ground as the leg wound continued to bleed.

One of the detectives, who has a long history of disciplinary action and allegations of excessive use of force and abuse of authority, could be seen stomping the suspect again after he was placed in cuffs and was lying face down on the ground.

A friend of the arrestee told the New York Daily News that he needed multiple stitches for the deep gash in his leg caused by the broken bottles. She also said that his nose was broken during the arrest. 

‘The detectives that did this, they’re known out here,’ the friend told the outlet. ‘It’s just this is the first time that someone was smart enough to film from start to finish.’

The person recording the video asked for the names and badge numbers of both the arresting officers. 

One replied, ‘1032… Detective Algerio.’ The other shouted back, ‘My name is shut up! I’m trying to make a call right now because this guy is bleeding out!’

But the person recording zoomed in on the second detective’s badge number, clearly showing that it was 5056. 

The detectives could be seen pulling the suspect by the legs before continuing to stomp and kick him

The man suffered a deep cut that caused him to bleed profusely. He lay on the floor for about seven minutes while leaking blood

One of the detectives, who has a long history of allegations of abuse of authority and excessive force, can be seen stomping the suspect after he was already cuffed on the ground

The distressed arrestee is pictured while both detectives lean on his back and cuff him

According to the NYPD’s officer profile search website, Detective Algerio’s full name is Michael P Algerio, and he has been with the department since July 2012. He was promoted to detective in February 2022. 

According to 50-a.org, an independent website that compiles Civilian Complaint Review Board complaints, police misconduct records and lawsuits, Algerio has had seven complaints and 12 allegations against him, one of which was substantiated. 

Many of those allegations were for abuse of authority and overuse of physical force. 

Only one allegation of abuse of authority was substantiated, while the rest of the allegations and complaints were either withdrawn, unsubstantiated or Algerio was exonerated.

Algerio was also involved in two lawsuits alleging unjustified use of force that were settled for a total of $38,090, according to the website. One of the plaintiffs said that they were unable to walk for nine months because of the injuries Algerio caused. 

The only NYPD detective with the badge number 5056 is Volkan Maden, who has been with the department since 2014 and was promoted to detective in 2024. 

His profile on 50-a.org lists a total of 12 complaints and 51 allegations, 12 of which were substantiated. The substantiated allegations include seven cases of abuse of authority.

The detective has been internally disciplined by the NYPD six times since 2022, according to the website. 

One of the arresting officers was Detective Michael P Algerio, who has had seven complaints and 12 allegations against him for excessive force and abuse of authority

The other arresting officer was Detective Volkan Maden, who has had 12 complaints and 51 allegations against him and has been internally disciplined by the NYPD six times

He has also been involved in three lawsuits against the city that were settled for a total of $14,000. One of the plaintiffs said that Maden threw him to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked him. 

Another plaintiff said the detective kicked him in the stomach multiple times and ‘continued to batter him’ after he had been tased and was already on the ground.