Kingston police and Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright confirmed this week that they’re investigating allegations that an off-duty city cop assaulted a man in an Uptown bar.
Kingston Police Chief Egidio Tinti confirmed an incident took place involving an off-duty KPD officer at the Uptown establishment, but would not confirm the officer’s name or the details of the incident, citing the necessity to protect the officer’s and victim’s rights during the course of the investigation. The police department is coordinating its investigation with the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office and will release a public statement soon, Tinti said.
Carnright confirmed that his office was working closely with the KPD on the investigation. “They recognized that it would be easier for them and better for the public if an independent agency handles it,” said Carnright.
Carnright, like Tinti, declined to discuss details of the incident, which was, according to KPD records, called in as a dispute at the Uptown bar at 3:44 a.m. March 21 But several people familiar with the incident say that the violence occurred in the early morning hours of March 21 when the off duty officer was confronted in a North Front Street bar by a man who had recently been arrested by city police. The verbal altercation, witnesses said, turned physical when the officer threw a flurry of punches. The pummeling continued on the street outside the bar, witnesses said. Police were summoned, but the off-duty cop had left the scene by the time they arrived.
The victim was taken to Kingston Hospital and later taken to Albany Medical Center for evaluation and treatment, according to the victim’s friends.
Multiple witnesses to the incident gave statements to police regarding the alleged assault, a source close to the incident said. – By Kingston Times staff
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