Yonkers police officer indicted on civil rights charges

The Yonkers police officer who was captured on tape allegedly slamming a woman to the floor has been indicted on federal civil rights charges. In May of 2007, police responded to a bar fight at La Fonda

News 12 Staff

Aug 19, 2008, 10:53 PM

Updated 5,863 days ago

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The Yonkers police officer who was captured on tape allegedly slamming a woman to the floor has been indicted on federal civil rights charges. In May of 2007, police responded to a bar fight at La Fonda Restaurant. In a surveillance video, Police Officer Wayne Simoes appears to slam Irma Marquez on the floor after she stepped in front of him. Marquez was slammed with such force that her jaw broke. She also suffered heavy bruising to her face and body. Simoes was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Yonkers Police Internal Affairs Division. However, federal investigators say excessive force was used in the actions against Marquez. A federal indictment issued Tuesday says the 38-year-old officer violated rights protected in the Constitution based on his actions in the video. Marquez has filed an $11.3 million civil suit in federal court against Simoes and Yonkers police. Yonkers Police Commissioner Edmund Hartnett has reopened the department's investigation into Simoes? actions. If convicted, Simoes could face 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.