January 23, 2013
Brooklyn man sues police for beating at Chabad center
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A Brooklyn man who alleges that he was beaten by New York police officers at a Chabad youth center in Brooklyn filed a civil rights lawsuit.
Ehud Halevy, 21, filed the suit Jan. 22 in Brooklyn federal court over the incident last October at the ALIYA Institute.
Halevy was arrested on assault, resisting arrest and trespassing charges and spent four days in jail before the charges were dropped.
Video captured on a security camera at the institute shows Halevy exchanging words with a male police officer and pushing away his hands after the officer had taken out handcuffs. Shortly after, the officer assumes a fighting stance and punches Halevy several times as he and a female officer wrestle Halevy to the couch where he was found sleeping.
During the two-minute incident, the female officer appears to use a truncheon and pepper spray on Halevy. Eight police officers arrive later to handcuff him.
Halevy reportedly had been sleeping on the institute's couch with permission for about a month. A volunteer security guard who was not aware of the arrangement had called the police upon discovering the man, who was shirtless and sleeping in the lounge, and reportedly appeared to be drunk.
