Oct 31, 2008 10:00 am US/Eastern
New Witness Account Emerges In NYPD 'Sodomy' Case
Attorneys: Officers Sexually Assaulted Michael Mineo With Walkie-Talkie; NYPD Vehemently Denies Charge
Doctors At Local Hospital Diagnose Man's Injury As 'Anal Assault'
NEW YORK (AP) ―
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Prosecutors are investigating allegations that five NYPD officers attacked tattoo parlor worker Michael Mineo and sodomized him with a walkie-talkie in a subway station.
CBS
There may be a new witness coming forward to testify in the case of a man who claims he was the victim of police brutality.
It's a New York Police Department Transit Cop who will reportedly be breaking ranks by offering to tell an account that may differ from what patrol cops say happened.
24-year-old Michael Mineo, who works at a tattoo parlor, alleges that five officers tackled him and that one violated him with a radio antenna at a subway station.
The new witness reportedly arrived as Mineo was arrested and it is not clear how the transit cop's testimony before the grand jury will support Mineo's claims.
Mineo was hospitalized for four days after the October 15 incident. He was back in the hospital this weekend being treated for what his lawyers say is continued bleeding, problems urinating and severe pain.
The police department has verified that Mineo was chased and grabbed by officers at a Brooklyn subway station, but it described the encounter as a "scuffle" and said his account of being sodomized wasn't supported by civilian witnesses.
Mineo met with the Brooklyn District Attorney staff on Thursday to prepare his grand jury testimony but cut the session short because of what his lawyers say was intense pain. His lawyers talked about the upcoming testimony from the transit cop:
"The police department has re-categorized him as a witness as opposed to a participant, so we'll wait and see on that...our client is seeking justice so hopefully this will help in that regard," said Attorney Kevin Mosley.
In a statement, Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne said: "His assertion that he was sodomized is not supported by independent civilian witnesses on the scene."
Rev. Al Sharpton has joined the cause of Mineo. The activist spent time at the hospital bedside of Mineo, who is being treated for complications related to the rectal injuries.
Sharpton says "police brutality is not an issue of color."
(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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