NYPD cop investigated for knocking woman to ground during altercation

NYPD internal affairs and Manhattan prosecutors are investigating the actions of a detective seen on body cameras knocking a woman to the ground in Harlem after she rushed up and struck him as officers took a man into custody.

Both NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell and a spokesman for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg confirmed their separate inquiries into the detective's actions Tuesday afternoon in front of 174 W. 136th St.

Police had taken Elvin James, 22, into custody about 4:30 p.m. outside an apartment building for possible involvement in an August shooting and discovered he was carrying a loaded, illegal 9 mm "ghost gun" in his waistband, authorities said. 

In police body camera videos released Thursday, officers are shown restraining James as a crowd gathers. A woman, identified in court records as Tamani Crum, approaches and steps close to James and the arresting officers, shouting out, “what is the problem?”

In a scene that plays out in seconds, one officer, identified as Det. Kendo Kinsey, pushes Crum away and she responds with an expletive, demanding he take his "hands off" her, striking the detective with an open hand, according to the video. Kinsey responds and shoves and strikes Crum with an open hand before she falls backward to the sidewalk, at which point he and other cops are seen on the video helping her off the pavement. Sewell said in her statement that Crum was conscious and was taken to an area hospital at her request.

Crum was charged with misdemeanor obstructing governmental administration and released on her own recognizance. Her defense attorney couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Critics raised questions about possible excessive force on the part of the detective while a police union representative said the body camera videos are evidence how people have become more emboldened to interfere when police doing their jobs.

On Wednesday, the Rev. Al Sharpton condemned the conduct of the officers from the 32nd Precinct, saying in a statement Crum was “aggressively” pushed by Kinsey.

Detective Endowment Association president Paul DiGiacomo said the video proves that "criminals in New York have grown accustomed to there being no consequences for their dangerous actions."

In an unrelated news conference, Mayor Eric Adams said the officers showed “great restraint."

According to a court complaint, James was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest and criminal possession of a controlled substance. The Aug. 12 shooting investigation is ongoing, officials said. His bail was set at $300,000 cash or bond, said a spokesman for Bragg. James' defense attorney couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.