Marty
12-23-2004, 06:52 AM
New York, NY -- A Brooklyn teen and his father are suing the city for alleged civil-rights violations after cops gunned down the family pit bull on a housing-project roof.
Angel Yulfo Jr., 15, claims he stepped onto the roof of the Louis Armstrong Houses on Oct. 10, 2003, with his leashed and muzzled dog Brandon when he heard a series of loud pops followed by yelps of agony.
"I just heard popping. I didn't know what was going on," Yulfo said.
The lawsuit filed yesterday in Brooklyn federal court by attorneys Ronald Kuby and Daniel Perez alleges that a gun was pointed at the teen's head and someone said, "finish him off."
Another shot was fired, fatally injuring the dog, which was frequently walked on the roof because it was allergic to grass, the suit says.
Cops then knocked the teen to the ground, handcuffed him and took him into custody for about five hours, according to the suit seeking unspecified damages.
"I was scared and hurt. It happened so fast. It was just crazy," said Yulfo, who was released without being charged.
"I was hurt because my dog was one of my best friends."
An NYPD spokesman declined comment.
On the same roof three months later, a cop fatally shot unarmed 19-year-old Timothy Stansbury.
A Brooklyn grand jury declined to indict the officer.
Angel Yulfo Jr., 15, claims he stepped onto the roof of the Louis Armstrong Houses on Oct. 10, 2003, with his leashed and muzzled dog Brandon when he heard a series of loud pops followed by yelps of agony.
"I just heard popping. I didn't know what was going on," Yulfo said.
The lawsuit filed yesterday in Brooklyn federal court by attorneys Ronald Kuby and Daniel Perez alleges that a gun was pointed at the teen's head and someone said, "finish him off."
Another shot was fired, fatally injuring the dog, which was frequently walked on the roof because it was allergic to grass, the suit says.
Cops then knocked the teen to the ground, handcuffed him and took him into custody for about five hours, according to the suit seeking unspecified damages.
"I was scared and hurt. It happened so fast. It was just crazy," said Yulfo, who was released without being charged.
"I was hurt because my dog was one of my best friends."
An NYPD spokesman declined comment.
On the same roof three months later, a cop fatally shot unarmed 19-year-old Timothy Stansbury.
A Brooklyn grand jury declined to indict the officer.