A battery of assault and drug charges that were filed against a Bronx teen whose beating by four cops was captured on a cell phone video were dropped by Bronx prosecutors due to lack of evidence.
Prosecutors however indicted beating victim Jateik Reed, 19, for the daylight iPhone mugging of Christylin Francis six days before the January 26 police beat down.
“The people are unable to meet their burden of proof,” ADA Raymond Valerio said about the two counts of assault, marijuana possession, menacing and harassment charges stemming from the run-in with cops.
The developments bolstered his defense team’s claim that Reed was a victim of racial profiling and that the teen was not attacking the four cops but actually writhing in pain and trying to defend himself.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who called the video troubling, put the cops on desk duty.
“It shows that they cannot justify the beating,” Reed’s father Bernard Walker said.
Reed’s lawyer, Michael Warren, said he uncovered a building surveillance video showing the stop/frisk and subsequent beat down – which clearly shows Reed and two pals walking down E. 168th Street when they were accosted by cops. (He refused to hand it over to the Post.)
“This is another clear example of a racial profile stop and frisk,” said Warren who plans file a lawsuit against the city and the NYPD.
Wearing a gray sweater and jeans, Reed said, “I’m thankful the case got dropped,” as he left the courtroom.
“We stand ready to pursue the allegation of excessive force but for one reason or another Mr. (Jateik) Reed and his attorneys have chosen not to speak with us, and in order to go further we require more than just the video tape,” DA Spokesman Steven Reed said.
Reed returns to court April 27th.