Two New York Metropolis law enforcement officials have been suspended after being charged with housebreaking and forcibly touching a intercourse employee whereas responding to a grievance about an unlawful brothel, prosecutors mentioned Monday.
Officers Justin McMillan and Justin Colon deliberately turned off their physique cameras as they broke right into a residential constructing, stole cash and forcibly touched a lady whereas on responsibility final July, in response to Queens District Legal professional Melinda Katz.
The patrol officers, who have been nonetheless on probationary standing after getting into the police academy in 2023, had been responding to a report of prostitution contained in the constructing.
Prosecutors say the 2 shut off their bodycams earlier than approaching a lady leaving the constructing and taking a key to the residence from her.
They returned eight hours later, unlocked the door and located a lady having intercourse with a person, who instantly fled, in response to Katz’s workplace.
McMillan then stole cash from the lady’s purse and groped her.
The lady ran away and finally known as 911 with the assistance of others, prosecutors mentioned. The officers, in the meantime, returned to their stationhouse with out reporting the incidents.
McMillan, 27, of Lengthy Island, and Colon, 24, of Queens, pleaded not responsible throughout their arraignment hearings Monday in Queens. They have been launched and are due again in court docket April 28, in response to Katz’s workplace.
They every face one depend of forcible touching and petit larceny, two counts of housebreaking, and 4 counts of official misconduct.
Attorneys for the 2 did not instantly reply to messages searching for remark.
The officers have been suspended with out pay. They have been positioned on modified responsibility final August because the NYPD’s inner affairs bureau and Katz’s workplace investigated, in response to police.
“We hold our officers to the highest standard of professionalism and integrity, and failing to meet that standard is disqualifying,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement. “Let me be perfectly clear: Any officer who violates their oath will be investigated, exposed, and held fully accountable. That standard will never change.”
