Families relocated from shelter after video of officers using stun gun on migrant holding toddler surfaces.
In the aftermath of a violent incident involving the police and a Venezuelan migrant at a city-run shelter in Queens, several families were abruptly relocated to other shelters without much explanation. The families, including the one involved in the altercation and the one that recorded the incident, were told to pack their belongings and were then transported to new locations in taxicabs and Ubers.
The sudden relocations left the families confused and scrambling for answers as they were given limited information, with shelter staff citing “security reasons” for the moves. One family, Alexander Monsalve and his wife and daughters, were dropped off at a hotel on Staten Island, about 30 miles away from their previous shelter. The lack of warning and clarity about the reasons behind the relocations left the families unsettled and unsure about their new living situations.
The relocation of these families seems to be connected to the altercation that occurred at the Queens shelter, where police officers used force, including a stun gun, on a migrant during a dispute. The incident, which was caught on video and later published by The New York Times, led to public scrutiny and investigations into the officers’ conduct. Mayor Eric Adams defended the officers, stating that the migrant was intoxicated and behaving violently, a claim that the migrant, Yanny Cordero, vehemently denies.
The families affected by the relocations are now adjusting to their new living arrangements while city officials continue to look into the incident at the Queens shelter. The fallout from the altercation has raised concerns about the treatment of migrants in city-run shelters and the use of force by law enforcement officers. The families involved are seeking answers and support as they navigate these uncertain circumstances.
Source: The NY Times
