Queens Family Claims NYPD Used Excessive Force

By: CeFaan Kim

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A Queens family, who police say interfered with an undercover drug bust Tuesday, is speaking out over what they claim was a use of excessive force by officers. NY1's CeFaan Kim filed the following report.

It was six o'clock Tuesday evening when the Martin family says two plainclothes New York City police officers kicked down their door.

"We all came running downstairs and said 'What are you doing?' They said 'We kicked in the door.' We said 'What was the reason for kicking down the door?' They said 'Because we felt like it,'" Sean Martin said.

The NYPD's version is very different. The police say the officers were chasing a drug suspect who ran into the building where the Martins live. The police say the outside door was already broken, so they knocked it in but were unable to locate the suspect.

A short time later other officers showed up and spent half an hour trying to fix the door. According to the Martins, police officers eventually gave up and tried to leave without giving them any paperwork.

That's when the Martins say they stood in the street to stop the officers from leaving. They claim the police tried to drive through them and that 15-year-old Sean Martin was hit by an NYPD car.

"Deliberately drove into us, he swerved the truck into us," said Anthony Martin.

Sean Martin says the truck hit his knee, and the side view mirror struck his ear. That's when the Martins say things turned even uglier.

According to the Martins, one of the officer's switched off the lights and dozens of others stampeded into their foyer. Marie Martin says she was punched and kicked in the process.

"They beat up my 15-year-old after they hit him with the truck. They beat up on my brother, my daughter, my other two sons. They had no right to hit them, they were in handcuffs," Marie Martin said.

The police deny the claims. Five family members were later charged with disorderly conduct, obstruction and resisting arrest. Four officers were treated for minor injuries.

As for hitting Sean Martin with a police vehicle, investigators say the boy tried to break the mirror -- a claim his brother says is not true.

"I've been an auxiliary [officer] for three years. I will never ever put that uniform on again. Never. It's a disgrace that they would lie," Anthony Martin said.

According to Martin, the family has filed a report with the NYPD's internal affairs bureau.