This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
Buffalo Police Officers Charged in Shoving Incident ¶
On June 5, 2020, two Buffalo police officers, Aaron Torgalski and Robert McCabe, were charged with felony assault for pushing a 75-year-old man, Martin Gugino, during a protest outside City Hall on June 4, 2020.
The charges were filed after a widely viewed video showed the officers shoving Mr. Gugino, who was an activist and a member of the Western New York Peace Center. The video showed Mr. Gugino stumbling backward and landing hard on the sidewalk, with blood pooling behind his head.
Prosecutors alleged that the officers had crossed the line and violated the law. Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn said, 'My job is to prosecute those who have violated the law, plain and simple. And I believe, and I'm alleging, that these two officers violated the law.'
The two officers were suspended without pay and pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were released on personal recognizance.
Supporters of the officers gathered outside the courthouse, holding signs that read 'BPD Strong.' Counterprotesters also showed up, chanting 'Support good cops, not bad cops.'
Gov. Andrew Cuomo commended city and county officials for suspending and charging the officers, saying, 'I think there was criminal liability, from what I saw on the video. I applaud them for acting as quickly as they did.'
