Source: Video sheds new light on case involving Suffolk officers as some charges against suspect are dropped

New video obtained exclusively by News 12 Wednesday may show a different story in a case involving Suffolk police officers, according to a source.

News 12 Staff

Jun 3, 2021, 12:38 AM

Updated 1,051 days ago

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New video obtained exclusively by News 12 Wednesday may show a different story in a case involving Suffolk police officers, according to a source.
As News 12 has reported, Christopher Cruz, 30, is accused of stealing a Jeep from a Port Jeff Station home in February. At the time of his arrest, video showed Cruz in handcuffs allegedly being struck by officers. Police had said Cruz rammed police cruisers with a stolen car.
A source tells News 12 that the video shows the police officers ramming Cruz at a Coram gas station.
The video is reportedly from the parking lot of a Mobil station on Route 112.
As News 12 has reported, two officers were suspended without pay and four others were put on modified duty after officials reviewed bodycam video of the arrest.
In addition to the new video surfacing, the Suffolk District Attorney's Office on Wednesday dismissed three of the five charges against Cruz. The charges dropped include assault, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.
Fred Brewington, the lawyer representing Cruz, says, "There's a sense of relief, to some degree, but there's also a sense of anxiety that exists with regard to that he was the victim of a crime in this situation and is still facing criminal charges, which we hope will be handle in short stead. There are mixed feelings. These charges should never have been brought in the first place and the officers that did bring them have basically given false statements and false sworn statements about what Mr. Cruz allegedly did."
News 12 reached out to the Suffolk County executive for a response to the new video, and he said he has no comment.
Cruz still has two charges pending and he's due back in court in February of 2022, News 12 is told.



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