NYPD officers assault Brooklyn shelter worker in February incident

On February 5, a shift supervisor at the Renaissance Shelter in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, was assaulted by NYPD officers while they were searching for a domestic violence suspect. The shelter worker, identified as Salters, reported that the police did not have a warrant and, following protocol, contacted a social services director to clarify the situation. Despite this, officers forcibly entered the shelter, leading to a confrontation. Surveillance footage captured the incident, showing officers repeatedly punching Salters as he attempted to prevent them from entering the dormitory area. The altercation escalated when Salters was threatened with a taser, prompting him to express his fear of being tased. The video evidence indicates that four officers surrounded him and handcuffed him after the initial assault. According to an internal report from the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the officers acted without proper authorization, as they were not in active pursuit of the suspect. Salters maintained that he did not threaten the officers or resist arrest. After the incident, Salters was taken to a hospital and subsequently to NYPD's central booking, where he faced charges of obstruction and resisting arrest. The DHS report highlighted that the officers had presented an I-Card, which Salters was unfamiliar with, leading him to seek clarification from the social services director. The incident has raised serious concerns about police conduct and the treatment of shelter workers. Salters expressed deep regret over the incident, stating that he wished he had called out sick that day. The traumatic experience has left him reluctant to go outside, reflecting the emotional toll of the encounter and the broader implications for the relationship between law enforcement and vulnerable populations in shelters.