NYPD Officer Charged After Shoving George Floyd Protester: DA

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — A NYPD officer seen millions of times on viral videos violently shoving a police brutality protester to the ground faces criminal charges.

Long Island resident Vincent D'Andraia, 28, committed an "unnecessary assault" on May 29 following a Barclays Center protest over the killing of George Floyd, said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez in a Tuesday statement.

Gonzalez authorized charges of third-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal mischief, second-degree harassment and third-degree menacing against D'Andraia, a cop in Brooklyn's 73rd Precinct who was already suspended for his actions.

“I fully support the long-held American tradition of non-violent protest," Gonzalez said in a statement. "As District Attorney I cannot tolerate the use of excessive force against anyone exercising this Constitutionally guaranteed right. This is especially true of those who are sworn to protect us and uphold the law."

Widely-circulated videos show D'Andraia violently shove a woman to the ground with such force she falls flat on her back.

It occurred following a once-peaceful protest at the Barclays Center that was among the first demonstrations over the killing of George Floyd that continue across the city. But tensions grew as some protesters threw water bottles at NYPD officers, who responded with shows of force, escalating quickly to baton beat downs, pepper spray and arrests.

The violence played out on social media and spread into surrounding neighborhoods, where some protesters lit police vehicles on fire.

In the midst of it, Dounya Zoyer and D'Andraia crossed paths. The complaint states D'Andraia called Zoyer "a stupid f---ing b----" and forcefully knocked her cell phone out of her hand.

D'Andraia then shoved her down to the pavement, causing her to hit her head on the ground, according to the complaint and video. He walked away, arms flexed, his supervisor Deputy Inspector Craig Edelman behind him doing nothing to help.

Video of the incident drew near-immediate outrage, including from elected officials who call for D'Andraia's and Edelman's immediate removal.

Zoyer went to the hospital after suffering a concussion and seizures. She later called for D'Andraia's arrest amid a lawsuit.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea announced last week that D'Andraia would be suspended without pay, along with another officer caught on video pulling a protester's protective mask down to pepper spray him in the face.

D'Andraia was arraigned Tuesday on the charges and released. He's scheduled to next appear in court on Oct. 15.

The charges were met with criticism by Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch, who laid blame at Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD leadership.

"They created the failed strategy for managing these demonstrations," Lynch said in a statement. "They sent police officers out to do the job with no support and no clear plan. They should be the ones facing this mob-rule justice."