Former Cop Gets Probation In Assault Of Handcuffed, Shackled Inmate

MOUNT VERNON, NY — A former Mount Vernon police officer will not spend time behind bars after being sentenced for assaulting a handcuffed inmate at Montefiore Hospital.

James Ready, 29, of Putnam Valley, was sentenced Tuesday to three years of probation on his plea of guilty to misdemeanor assault in the third degree, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah announced.

On November 23, 2019, Ready, who was a probationary Mount Vernon police officer at the time, was in charge of guarding Tyquan Brown, who was in police custody and had been taken to the Montefiore-Mount Vernon Hospital Emergency Room to seek medical attention. At around 1:30 a.m., Ready was preparing to return Brown, who was handcuffed and shackled at the ankles, to MVPD headquarters. While attempting to restrain an unruly Brown, Ready slammed Brown to the floor causing his body and head to strike the floor, resulting in physical injury.

When questioned about how Brown received his injuries, Ready lied and created a false report about the brutal incident.

SEE ALSO:

• Former Mount Vernon Cop Guilty Plea In Assault On Handcuffed Man
• Cop Accused Of Body-Slamming Shackled Prisoner At Hospital

The violent incident was captured on hospital surveillance video.

The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office arrested Ready on January 28, 2020, following an investigation. Ready soon resigned from the Mount Vernon Police Department.

"James Ready took an oath to protect and serve the people of Westchester County," Rocah said at the time. "His actions not only violated the law, but they violated that oath. Westchester County is fortunate to have dedicated police officers who work hard to keep the community safe, and we will work together with them to ensure that officers like Ready who harm people in their care and lie about their actions are held accountable."