Rockland Post Desk
A Haverstraw police sergeant has been disciplined following the public release of surveillance video showing him grabbing a 17-year-old by the neck and shoving him into a storefront window outside Central Market La Bodega on Broadway last summer.
The surveillance footage — captured on August 3 shortly after the town’s Dominican Day Parade — shows the teen on his bicycle speaking with officers when one of them approaches, grabs him by the neck and pushes him into the store’s front window. Witnesses say the encounter escalated quickly, prompting concern from bystanders.
Watch the video that sparked the investigation:
Surveillance video of Haverstraw officer grabbing teen by neck (Facebook / News12HV)
(Note: video hosted on Facebook by News 12 Hudson Valley.)
https://www.facebook.com/reel/739540289227327/?sfnsn=mo&mibextid=2Rb1fB
The teen, identified in news reports as 17-year-old Andres Garcia, told reporters he was asking officers why people were being told to leave when the situation turned physical. Authorities said police were clearing the area after numerous disorderly conduct and local ordinance violations following the parade. Garcia was charged with disorderly conduct and issued an appearance ticket at the time.
Police Response and Discipline
Haverstraw Police Chief John Gould confirmed that the officer involved was disciplined after an internal investigation, but did not release the full details of the disciplinary action, citing personnel privacy. The department also retrained officers on arrest techniques and tactics after the incident.
It is not clear whether the officer remains on active duty. The department has not commented further on the officer’s current status.
If you want, I can help turn this into a print-ready community report story (in your preferred style) or include quotes from the teen and witnesses from the video interview.