The family of a Bronx resident who was arrested back in June and was restrained by an officer who used an alleged illegal chokehold is seeking more justice.
Family and representatives for Ricky Bellevue stood in front of the Kings County Supreme Court Thursday to demand justice and filed a $25 million notice of claim against the city of New York, the NYPD and David Afanador, the officer-involved.
The claim seeks damages for injuries Bellevue sustained during the incident. His family says they want justice and Afanador in jail.
Bellevue was arrested back in June on the boardwalk in Far Rockaway, Queens, when a group of officers took him to the ground. During the incident, his family says he was restrained by a chokehold, which was made illegal by a new law just a few weeks prior.
Officer Afanador was arrested and charged with attempted aggravated strangulation and strangulation in the second-degree. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.
The family says Bellevue has mental health issues and has been in and out of the hospital and had run-ins with the law.
He is currently on Rikers Island. The family says the system and the officers have failed him.