NEW YORK CITY POLICE OFFICER CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING AN
UNARMED CIVILIAN IN ALLEGEDLY UNPROVOKED ATTACK
Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a New York City Police Officer has been arrested and indicted on charges that he allegedly assaulted an unarmed civilian in an unprovoked attack.
The Grand Jury indicted Police Officer Marc Rios, 39, on one count of Attempted Assault in the 1st degree, a Class C felony offense, and one count of Assault in the 2nd degree, a Class D felony offense in connection with an incident that occurred on March 30, 2009 in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx. Rios is facing a maximum sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment if convicted of the most serious charge, Attempted Assault in the 1st degree. Rios has been a New York City Police Officer for ten years and is currently assigned to the 52nd Precinct.
The Grand Jury alleges that Rios “with intent to cause physical injury to another person, did cause such injury to John Roperto, by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, that being a PR-24 police baton.”
Rios, accompanied by his attorney, surrendered to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office this morning and was later arraigned before Acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett in Part T 60. The judge set bail at $25,000 in the form of a personal recognizance bond.
It is alleged that Rios struck Roperto in the face with his night stick fracturing the victims’ cheekbone and another bone in the vicinity of the victim’s nose. The incident occurred on West Kingsbridge Road and University Avenue shortly after 4:00 A.M. after Roperto and two friends left a nightclub, El Aguila, at 80 West Kingsbridge Road. An investigation turned up no evidence of any threatening actions by Roperto towards Rios or his partner prior to the assault.
Rios and his partner left the area immediately following the incident without charging Roperto with any offense and without filing a report about what had occurred. The matter came to light after Roperto called 911 for an ambulance and said that he had been beaten by a police officer.
The charges in the indictment announced today are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau by Detective John Becerra, under the supervision of Lieutenant John Breheny, Inspector Patrick Keane, and Chief Charles Campisi. Assistant District Attorney James Cudden of the Rackets Bureau is prosecuting the case. Assistant District Attorney James Cudden of the Rackets Bureau is prosecuting the case.
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