A 16-year-old boy was left bruised and battered after he was allegedly beaten and tased three times by an NYPD officer during a night of r...
A 16-year-old boy was left bruised and battered after he was allegedly beaten and tased three times by an NYPD officer during a night of riots and looting amid George Floyd demonstrations in the city.
The family of Jahmel Leach have shared gruesome photos of the teenager's bloodied face in the hospital following the incident in the Bronx on June 1.
They say Jahmel had been on the sidelines of a protest that had spiraled out of control on Fordham Road, where businesses were being targeted by looters and fires were being ignited on the street.
The teenager was tased in the head, leg and shoulder and allegedly struck by an officer before being taken to St Barnabas Hospital and later into custody, without the knowledge of his parents despite him being a minor.
The family of Jahmel Leach has released gruesome photos of the teenager's bloodied face after he was allegedly tased and 'beaten' by NYPD officers in the Bronx on June 1
The 16-year-old was taken to hospital and charged with arson despite being a minor and without his parents' knowledge, his family claims
A few days after the incident, Jahmel was spotted at another George Floyd demonstration on Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with his injured face
His family only learned of what happened when they received a phone call from the hospital that night, The Daily News reported.
'He [the officer] beat him. He exploited him. And he handed him over to the mother in an exploitative manner,' Jahmel's cousin Yamil Miller told the publication.
Miller said the boy was held 'against his will and legal right' as a minor and was thrown in a cell with adults.
A statement released by the family also alleges the officer told his mother: 'I'm sorry he is so tall I thought he was an adult when I took him down.'
An interview published by The Grio states Jahmel is 6'1.
Police have claimed the boy was allegedly trying to set fire to trash on the street and had been seen running out of a T-Mobile store that was ransacked by looters before he was tased.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has shared the graphic photos on Twitter saying he has spoken to the boy's family and the NYPD is investigating the incident. The pair were photographed together days later at a different George Floyd demonstration in Brooklyn
The family says Jahmel was tased three times and is in danger of losing all of his teeth
He was charged with fifth-degree arson, however, Jahmel's family has insisted he was not involved in any of the chaos and was only a spectator.
'He was shot with a taser three times to the head, leg and shoulder. He is also in danger of losing all his teeth,' they said in a statement.
'Jahmel and his family are traumatized by this encounter'.
They are now demanding actions saying authorities violated his civil rights by questioning a child 'without a parent, legal guardian, or attorney.'
The teenager told The Grio on Wednesday he was not participating in the riots because he is scared of crowds.
'I was outside during the protest walking home,' he said.
'I was approached by several police officers, who unexpectedly slammed (me) to the ground and tased me to the left temple.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by the family who say he was held 'against his will and legal right' as a minor and thrown in a cell with adults
'I don't remember how I received all the injuries to my face and body. I woke up in a police car being taken to the precinct. I was in a cell coughing up blood.'
Mayor Bill de Blasio has shared the graphic photos on Twitter saying he has been in contact with the family.
'I've spoken to Jahmel's family and I'm really troubled by what they told me. We're going to get them answers. The NYPD has launched an investigation into what happened,' he said.
The NYPD would not comment on the police officer involved but told DailyMail.com the matter is under investigation.
A few days after the incident, Jahmel was spotted at another George Floyd demonstration on Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with his injured face.
He was later photographed with Mayor De Blasio at the memorial in an Instagram photo saying: 'Discussing EXCESSIVE FORCE with Mayor DiBlasio. JAHMEL wanted to tell his story.'
A Go Fund Me campaign has been launched by the family to raise money for his recovery.
Miller said Jahmel has been 'relocated' and they have hired attorney Mark David Shirian to represent them in their case.
'My family is outraged and want this to be exposed as many minors are violated at the hands of the NYPD. The WHITE officer violated this young black minor. We are mad.'
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