Unfortunate developments in the case of Tiffany Jimenez, the 19-year-old New York City lesbian who was beaten by male police officers outside a Brooklyn lounge. Despite previous assurances from an Assistant District Attorney that disorderly conduct charges would be dropped, the case will go to trial.
The incident happened outside the IFE Lounge in Crown Heights on May 17. Jeannette Grey and Tiffany Jimenez say five NYPD officers shouted homophobic slurs and threw them to the ground. Jimenez told the Daily News: "I had no shoes and they threw me on my back. They're yelling at me, 'B---, get down!' I'm screaming and crying. I was shocked and angry and scared."
The NYPD denies the allegations, saying they responded to a fight. Their version: Jimenez was "highly intoxicated" and taken to Kings County Hospital. Jimenez says this did not happen.
Last month, the Kings County District Attorney's office assured the Audre Lorde Project, the Brooklyn-based LGBT-POC organization, "the charges against Jimenez would be dropped and [were] 'baseless.' " Monday morning at New York City Criminal Courts, just the opposite happened: The case was bound to a bench trial on August 17th.
Ejeris Dixon, Program Coordinator the Audre Lorde Project (seen with
black glasses) says she is "appalled" prosecutors reneged and adds:
"This is just another example of how the DAs relationship with the NYPD
leads to injustice for innocent New York citizens."
On May 19, a complaint was filed to NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau by Jimenez's uncle alleging that she was the victim of unnecessary force and an anti-gay slur. That case is pending. Some have speculated the criminal case was continued to discredit Jimenez and her complaint.
Nathan James, the New York City-based author and activist, attended the Monday the pre-trial hearing and press conference and also finds it "incredible" the charges were not dropped. James tells Rod 2.0 the Jimenez case is yet another "deplorable demonstration of homophobia by he NYPD and the Brooklyn Dist Attorney's office."PHOTOS: DJ Baker of the Da Doo-Dirty Show
Thanks NATHAN JAMES and DJ BAKER
