Ossé was taken into custody Wednesday while protesting a constituent's eviction. He said police roughed him up; NYPD said officers followed guidelines.
7:38 PM
New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé was arrested Wednesday morning in Brooklyn while protesting an attempted eviction, according to multiple reports.
Ossé was taken into custody alongside several others at the property where city marshals were attempting to carry out an eviction of Bed-Stuy resident Carmella Charrington, who has been engaged in a contentious dispute over the home's deed. Ossé's office said the councilmember was arrested "while defending his constituent, Carmella Charrington, from eviction after six decades in her home."
After his release from custody roughly two hours after arrest, Ossé said he had been "manhandled" by police and was experiencing dizziness after hitting his head when pushed to the sidewalk. He said he plans to file a misconduct complaint against the officers involved.
"If it can happen to me it can happen to many, many New Yorkers most especially Black New Yorkers and senior new Yorkers who have been advocating for years for deed theft to end," Ossé said.
Video of the incident posted on social media by Ossé's team shows the councilmember in a confrontation with two NYPD officers. The footage depicts Ossé being brought to the ground by the officers while another person apparently also being placed under arrest can be seen on the ground next to him. An officer then holds that other person's leg down while Ossé is handcuffed and picked up.
The NYPD said the officers acted within police guidelines. Ossé's characterization of the episode as "deed theft" has been challenged by others involved in the long-running property dispute.
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