NYPD chief suing NYC councilwoman for biting him (after leftists dropped criminal charges!) | Law Enforcement Today

NEW YORK CITY, NY - A city councilwoman who had charges against her dismissed could still be in hot water over the matter as the victim, an New York Police Department (NYPD) chief, files a civil lawsuit against her.

According to the New York Post, Frank DiGiacomo, deputy chief of Patrol Brooklyn South, served his Brooklyn Supreme Court lawsuit against Councilwoman Susan Zhuang (D-Brooklyn) at her home on April 9th, just one day after the criminal charges against her for the bloody assault were dismissed.

The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office said that before the criminal case was dropped, Zhuang and DiGiacomo met as part of a "restorative justice" program. Brooklyn DA spokesman Oren Yaniv said in a statement that the face-to-face and ultimate dismissal of the criminal charges was "based on the wishes of the victim and the defendant's willingness to make amends."

He added, "This case was resolved through a restorative justice process that created space for dialogue, accountability, and healing." Despite the rehabilitative approach taken with this crime, DiGiacomo is proceeding with the lawsuit, accusing Zhuang of negligence and of leaving him "permanently injured" as well as suffering from "great trauma and distress" from the incident.

DiGiacomo, who is seeking unspecified damages, previously claimed that he needed a tetanus shot after Zhuang chomped down on his arm while he tried to hold barricades in place at a July protest against a Bensonhurst homeless shelter. Yaniv said, "The lawsuit has nothing to do with the resolution of the criminal case."

Zhuang pleaded not guilty to all charges and claimed she was protecting an elderly demonstrator that was allegedly being manhandled by police. The lawsuit was filed by DiGiacomo's lawyer on March 18th, but then waited three weeks to serve Zhuang with the legal filing. 

According to a previous report by the New York Post, Zhuang was arrested on a slew of charges including second-degree and third-degree assault and resisting arrest. Law enforcement sources said that Zhuang tried to prevent officers from arresting another woman at the protest grabbing and pushing police barricades into officers, then bit DiGiacomo on the arm when he attempted to pull the councilwoman away from the barriers.

During the demonstration, multiple officers were assaulted and several other demonstrators were taken into custody. Footage of Zhuang's arrest shows her cable-tied to a barricade while screaming incoherently as police attempt to take her into custody.

DiGiacomo's arm was left with teeth marks and broken skin. He was treated with an "anti-viral cocktail" and given a tetanus shot after the incident. At the time, a council member said that Zhuang's behavior was "disqualifying for a council member." The person said, "Violence against our cops is unacceptable and just because you are a member of the Common Sense Caucus doesn't make it right at all. Biting a cop is a felony. We need to back the blue, not bite the blue."

In addition to the charges mentioned above, Zhuang was charged with obstructing governmental administration, unlawful assembly, second-degree harassment, and two counts of disorderly conduct.