5/17/2008

New York: Cop Beats Meter Maid, Crowd Applauds

New York City, New York police officer greeted with applause for beating up a meter maid who gave his girlfriend a ticket.





A crowd in New York City, New York expressed support for an off-duty police officer who took his anger out on a meter maid on April 16. New York Police Department Officer Eladro Mata got into an argument with meter maid Eric Celemi, 29, after Celemi ticketed Mata's girlfriend for double-parking on Webster Avenue in the Bronx."I had been writing tickets and people standing on the street were applauding when I got arrested," Celemi told the New York Daily News.Mata displayed his badge and began shoving Celemi when he refused to withdraw the ticket. Celemi held his ground and Mata allegedly threw a few punches at Celemi, who required three stitches in his left ear. A NYPD lieutenant called to the scene ordered Celemi to be arrested and taken in handcuffs to the local precinct, pleasing those who had gathered to watch.Although Mata has been suspended, NYPD has ignored Celemi's requests to press charges against the officer.Source: Traffic enforcer says officer beat him bloody for parking summons (New York Daily News, 5/16/2008)