Incident
| Date | Apr 24, 2014 |
| Department | Buffalo Police Department |
| Officers | Nicholas A. Militello , Jeffrey Rinaldo , John Cirulli , Dennis R. Gilbert , Brian Griffin , Lindsay A. Laracuente-Zgoda |
| Address | Buffalo, NY |
Incident Description
CW: On the night of April 19th, when John Willet, a 22 year old Black man, was driving, he noticed a car was following him. Fearing that it may be someone meaning to do him harm, he sped away. The car following him turned out to be undercover police car, which pursued Willet to Ontario and Philadelphia Streets. Willet parked his vehicle, got out and ran across the street where he willingly surrendered. Willet reported that he stood there with his hands in the air when a Buffalo Police Officer punched him and threw him down to the ground. Buffalo Police Officer John Cirulli and Nicholas Militello along with four other officers kneed and punched Willet while trying to apprehend him. John Cirulli kicked and punched Willet while he was handcuffed and laying face down, pleading for them to stop.
Outcome
On April 28, 2014, officers were placed on administrative leave. On April 29, 2014, BPD suspended John Cirulli from duty without pay for violating departmental rules and regulations. On May 29, 2014, he resigned his position with the Buffalo Police Department and pleaded guilty to two federal misdemeanor civil rights violations. He was sentenced to 12 months probation.
On April 15, 2015, Willet filed a lawsuit against him, Militello, the Buffalo Police Department, the city of Buffalo, Jeffrey Rinaldo and another defendant. Judge Richard J. Arcara dismissed the case.
Links
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Former Buffalo police officer receives probation for assault caught on video
A former Buffalo police officer was sentenced to one-year probation and fined $3,000 for two civil rights violations. - ASHLEY HIRTZEL of WBFO
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Willet v. City of Buffalo (1:15-cv-00330)
The complaint arises out of the arrest and assault of Willet in the City of Buffalo in 2014. - District Court, W.D. New York | CourtListener
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Man Beaten by Former Buffalo Police Officer Reacts to Sentence
"I had two misdemeanors and he had two misdemeanors as well,” said Willet. “I don't understand how he got one year probation." "It does seem as if there's some inequity in terms of how the law viewed Mr. Ciruilli and the law viewed Mr. Willet," said Phillip Dabney, Willet’s attorney. - Spectrum News | Meg Rossman
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United States v. Cirulli (1:14-cr-00091)
Officer pled guilty to a Two Count Misdemeanor of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law - District Court, W.D. New York | CourtListener
Videos
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Buffalo Police Brutality 4/24/2014
CW: Willet reported that he stood there with his hands in the air when an officer punched him and threw him down to the ground. Shortly after that is where the video begins, you can see that officers kneed and punched Willet while trying to apprehend him. Towards the end, you can see an officer kicking and punching Willet while he was handcuffed and laying face down, pleading for them to stop. Willet was charged with resisting arrest and minor drug possession charges.