February 28, 2018 Following an unlawful traffic stop in Staten Island, New York video captures what is alleged to be the planting of drug paraphernalia by a New York City Police Officer. At the center of the controversy are NYPD police officers Elmer Pastran, and Kyle Erickson.
While wearing department issued, functioning body cameras, the two officer conducted a non- consent search of the vehicle occupied by four black males. Their body cameras capture the entire exchange, except the moment at which officer Elmer Pastran purports to find what appears to be marijuana wrapped in cigar paper. Officer Elmer Pastran indicated in his police report that the marijuana cigar was “lit and in plain view.”
However, the body camera footage doesn’t show a lit cigar anywhere in the vehicle, at any time period.
The statement issued by the New York City Police Department that “the officers acted properly” only lends credence to the fear held by many African Americans that they will be targeted by police for driving while black.
The case against the teen was subsequently dismissed. And the officers involved to-date, continue to roam the streets looking for additional black males to harass, frame, and arrest .
Editors notes : 90 percent of Staten Island police officers are white , making it the least diverse group of police officers in New York City.