Charges Dismissed Against Buffalo Cops Who Knocked Down Elderly Protester

Topline

A grand jury on Thursday chose not to indict two police officers in Buffalo, N.Y., for shoving a 75-year-old man to the ground during last year’s Black Lives Matter protests, closing out a saga that attracted nationwide criticism from activists and spurred a high-profile defense of the officers’ conduct from former President Donald Trump.

Key Facts

Crucial Quote

“I’ll stand by the fact that charges should have been filed,” Flynn said at a press conference. “If I had to go back over again, I’d do the same thing, without any question.”

Key Background

A video of police pushing Gugino to the ground, where he laid motionless as a pile of blood formed around his head, went viral on social media. The incident coincided with months of protests over police misconduct, and for some of those activists, Gugino’s fall was a searing example of their concerns. Meanwhile, fellow Buffalo police officers rushed to show solidarity with Torgalski and McCabe, and the city’s police union argued the officers didn’t intend to hurt Gugino, but instead knocked him down because he interfered in their efforts to clear a downtown Buffalo plaza. Trump, for his part, defended the officers by baselessly accusing Gugino of being a member of antifa engaged in a nefarious anti-police plot.

Tangent

The Buffalo Police Department suspended Torgalski and McCabe following the incident. It’s unclear whether they’ll return to work following the grand jury’s dismissal (the department did not respond to a request for comment).

Further Reading

No indictment for two Buffalo police officers charged with pushing 75-year-old protester (The Buffalo News)