WHITE PLAINS
Officer denies violating woman’s civil rights
WHITE PLAINS (AP) — Despite a video that shows him body-slamming a woman to the floor, a policeman charged with violating her civil rights plans to take his case to trial, his lawyer said Wednesday.
The attorney spoke after the defendant, Yonkers Officer Wayne Simoes, pleaded not guilty in federal court.
“While the tape shows part of the story, what it cannot show is Officer Simoes’ intent,” said defense lawyer Andrew Quinn.
The incident occurred March 3, 2007, at a restaurant where Irma Marquez’s niece had been hit with a bottle. The video shows Simoes grabbing Marquez by the waist, lifting her and slamming her face first onto the tile floor. Her jaw was broken and she was knocked unconscious. Authorities said then that the officer was trying to keep the woman from interfering with emergency medical technicians.
Marquez was handcuffed and arrested, but later acquitted of an obstruction charge. She is suing the Yonkers police force for $11 million.
