Incident
| Date | Mar 18, 2017 |
| Department | Buffalo Police Department |
| Officers | Joseph R. Hassett |
| Address | Buffalo, NY |
Incident Description
Buffalo Police officer Joseph Hassett was recorded on camera assaulting Timothy Stanton Jr. on March 18, 2017. Stanton was taken to ECMC for a head injury and a cut on his forehead that required stitches. The Erie County District Attorney's Office and the Buffalo Police Department both said they didn't learn about the incident until video of the confrontation was requested by Stanton's attorney. Hassett was charged with two counts of third-degree assault, official misconduct, offering a false instrument for filing and making a punishable false written statement in connection to an incident that happened in March 2017.
Prosecutors argued this was excessive use of force, but the Judge disagreed, dismissing all criminal charges. BPD Internal Affairs opened an investigation on May 26, 2017 and officially suspended Officer Hassett on May 30, 2017, according to Commissioner Daniel Derenda. Hassett was suspended for 30 days without pay.
Links
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BPD officer found not-guilty of assaulting a suspect
A suspended Buffalo Police officer accused of roughing up a suspect in the Buffalo city lockup has been found not guilty on all charges. - WKBW
Videos
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Joseph Hassett intentionally tripped an inmate who required stitches and judge finds him not guilty!
Video shows Joseph Hassett clearly, intentionally tripping inmate Timothy Stanton Jr. while handcuffed with hands behind his back.