Massachusetts Booking Officer Chokes Woman (VIDEO)
New video has been released showing a Massachusetts police officer choking a woman during the booking of a February, 2013 arrest.
The footage shows Maylene Maldonado being verbally argumentative with Chicopee Police before Sgt. Daniel Major takes a firm grip of the woman’s neck and begins choking her.
Although no sound can be heard from the footage, Maldonado can be seen clearly shouting the word, “Stop!” over and over again as the officers continue to manhandle her.
At the time of the incident, then-acting Chicopee Police Chief Charette contended Majors actions were appropriate and that Maldonado was being violent. Charette also said that the move employed by the Sgt. did not constitute an actual choke-hold.
The surveillance video, however, appears to contradict that sentiment as the footage shows Maldonado, who is visible upset, only arguing with the officers.
Watch the raw footage:
Current Chicopee Police Chief William Jebb has indicated since the videos release Monday, that there is a need for further review.
At one time, the District Attorney’s office had pursued charges against Major but did not indict. In light of the videos release, Major has now resigned and prosecutors are expected to reconsider charging him with assault.
Maldonado filed a brutality lawsuit against the department two weeks ago naming seven current and active Chicopee officers as defendants.
She was initially arrested and booked in 2013 for ‘assault on a police officer.’
Police use of choke-holds have become particularly controversial in wake of the Eric Garner death in New York some months ago, where an overweight, asthmatic man died as a result of sleeper-like hold applied by an New York city police officer.
Medical professionals say choke-holds can be fatal within just eight to ten seconds.
