NYC cops accused of assault in case of teen pot suspect

NEW YORK -- Two New York City police officers have surrendered to face criminal charges in the videotaped beating of a teenage marijuana suspect.

David Afanador and Tyraine Isaac were awaiting arraignment on Wednesday afternoon. They both reportedly face charges of assault and official misconduct and one also faces an extra charge of criminal possession of a weapon.

Security video from Aug. 29 captured a 16-year-old slowing down on a Brooklyn sidewalk as the officers caught up to him. The video was posted on the website DNAinfo last month.

The video allegedly shows an NYPD officer later identified as Isaac hitting the teen with a roundhouse punch. Seconds later, as the teen tries to surrender, Afanador appears to hit him with his pistol. The beating continues until the teen drops to the ground and is handcuffed.

The teen's attorney says that he suffered broken teeth and other mouth injuries and said it could have been a lot worse, according to CBS New York.

"These officers assaulted my client, one of them with the butt of a weapon," attorney Amy Rameau told the station. "They could have killed him, that gun could have gone off in my client's face injuring him or people walking by."

Patrick Lynch, the president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, said the video doesn't tell the full story.

"It doesn't tell what the police officer saw or raised their suspicion," he told CBS New York. "They leave out the fact that there was a foot pursuit where police officers had to chase this individual as he threw something down. That's a dangerous situation for police officers."

Police say the teen had a record, having been arrested on Aug. 1 for the alleged sale and possession of pot. On Aug. 29 and 31, he was busted by the officers for having pot and for allegedly having a loaded gun.

They claimed that in the Aug. 29 incident he threw 17 small bags of pot while running away. The police also say the teen tossed the weapon as he ran away on Aug. 31, reports CBS New York. The Aug. 1 case was reportedly pleaded down to a violation.

The NYPD said that one officer was suspended without pay and the other was put on desk duty stemming from the Aug. 29 encounter.

There was no immediate comment from a law firm representing the officers, according to The Associated Press.