Mount Vernon Police Sergeant Guilty Of Using Excessive Force: DOJ

MOUNT VERNON, NY — A Mount Vernon police officer has been criminally convicted of violating a Brooklyn man's civil rights.

Edward Y. Kim, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that 46-year-old Mario Stewart, of Brooklyn, a sergeant with the Mount Vernon Police Department, pled guilty Friday to using excessive force against a victim in Mount Vernon, in violation of the victim's rights under the U.S. Constitution.

"Mario Stewart betrayed his duty as a Sergeant with the Mount Vernon Police Department. Stewart was called to the scene to aid a person in emotional distress," Kim said. "But instead of rendering aid, he deployed his taser on the individual seven times in the span of roughly two minutes, while the individual was helpless, and while several other MVPD officers were on scene to assist. This Office will fiercely protect constitutional rights and hold accountable those who abuse their authority to violate those rights."

SEE ALSO: FBI Arrests Mount Vernon PD Sergeant Over Excessive Force Claims

According to court documents, on March 26, 2019, Stewart was employed as a sergeant with the Mount Vernon Police Department, and assigned to the MVPD's Emergency Services Unit, which is responsible for responding to people who are experiencing mental health crises.

On that day, Stewart and six other MVPD officers received a call to help the victim, who was experiencing a mental health crisis.

Once on the scene, Stewart and the other police officers restrained the victim, handcuffing his hands behind his back and securing his legs in a restraint bag, in order to transport him for medical assistance.

When the officers were unable to pull the restraint bag over the victim's chest because he was holding onto one of the bag's straps, Stewart told the victim to release the strap.

While Stewart deployed his Taser seven times, the victim remained lying on the ground, handcuffed with his hands behind his back and his legs secured in the restraint bag.

The DOJ says that Stewart's actions caused bodily injury to the victim, including extreme pain.

Stewart pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Kim praised the investigative work of the FBI, and thanked the Westchester County District Attorney's Office and the Mount Vernon Police Department for their help with the investigation.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office's Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg and Jared Hoffman in charge of the prosecution.