Kyle Howell testifies that he passed out as Nassau police officer assaulted him

The motorist at the middle of a Nassau police brutality case testified Wednesday he was trying to get rid of marijuana so his probation wouldn't be revoked when an officer punched him in the face at a 2014 traffic stop.

But the witness, Kyle Howell, also admitted he'd previously lied about some of what happened during the encounter, including what he was doing with his hands during part of it.

Howell, now 22, of Westbury, took the witness stand on the second day of Nassau Officer Vincent LoGiudice's felony assault trial before County Court Judge Patricia Harrington in Mineola.

The district attorney's office contends LoGiudice, 35, inflicted at least 18 blows to Howell in an April 25, 2014, traffic stop in Westbury caught on a store's surveillance camera. The defense claims the officer used reasonable and necessary force while making a split-second decision.

Howell and his family later obtained the video, which led to a police misconduct probe. A prosecutor played the recording in court Wednesday.

"I remember Officer LoGiudice come around the corner and punch me in the face," Howell said, describing the officer's motions outside his car.

He said LoGiudice punched him twice in the face, and striking him in the nose with a knee as LoGiudice's partner, Officer Basil Gomez, straddled him in a 2002 Honda. Howell said he blacked out at some point and awoke in an ambulance in pain.

Howell said he didn't know there was marijuana in the glove compartment when he opened it to get his car's registration and insurance card. But the officers spotted the drug, according to a separate recording Howell made on his cellphone that also was played in court.

Howell testified LoGiudice took his phone -- which the prosecution has said LoGiudice then shut off. Howell said he then leaned to the passenger side of the car, "trying to put the weed outside" by ripping the bag it was in so it would fly away and he wouldn't get a probation violation, when LoGiudice started hitting him.

LoGiudice, who joined the police force in 2007, faces up to 7 years in prison if found guilty of the top count against him.

Howell's injuries included nose and eye-area fractures. He testified Wednesday that after two surgeries, he still has peripheral vision problems and facial soreness. He admitted to steady marijuana use in the past -- starting in high school -- and also having used cocaine. He said he'd been previously diagnosed with anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder.

The witness also testified he had a burglary conviction for breaking into a commercial building and a misdemeanor assault conviction -- crimes for which he got youthful-offender status. Howell testified he'd later been convicted of shoplifting and marijuana possession. He also said he'd spent six months in jail at one point, was on probation for the burglary at the time of the traffic stop and had a criminal case pending in Manhattan.

As Howell's cross-examination began, defense attorney William Petrillo probed his criminal history. That included a 2012 incident that led to Howell's marijuana conviction in which police responding to a report of gunfire found a gun in Howell's car and arrested his passenger for it.

Howell also confirmed he'd had a prior interaction with LoGiudice at a traffic stop at a 7-Eleven three months before the April 2014 event. He agreed he told LoGiudice that his family's home had been firebombed and one of the people Howell suspected of that crime had accused him of armed robbery.

Howell also conceded that he had lied in statements he made to the media about the April traffic stop. He testified he told reporters he didn't have marijuana and was reaching for a paycheck that blew away when he was really was trying to get rid of the marijuana.

"Yes, I lied and made a terrible mistake," Howell told Petrillo.

The witness agreed that meant he'd said something false about what he'd been doing in the car -- and with his hands -- at the time of the traffic stop.

His cross-examination continues Thursday.