Man who accused police pleads guilty
Activists have said arrest was example of minorities in city being mistreated
KINGSTON, N.Y. » The man who said he was roughed up by Kingston police officers last July while walking home from work pleaded guilty Wednesday to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct.
Adrin Brodhead, 24, pleaded guilty to the violation moments before jury selection was to begin in his trial for the misdemeanor of resisting arrest. The City Court proceeding was held in the Ulster County Courthouse because City Court can’t accommodate jury trials.
When Ulster County Assistant District Attorney Jarrid Blades asked Brodhead if, at about 1:06 a.m. on July 20, 2017, he “acted in a disorderly way” toward city police, Brodhead responded simply: “Yes, sir.”
City Judge Philip Kirschner issued a conditional discharge in the matter, meaning if Brodhead doesn’t commit any un-
lawful acts within the next year, the matter will be considered resolved.
The plea closed the books on a case that community activists billed as an example of how black men are treated in the city, with some of his supporters suggesting his arrest was the result of “walking while black.”
Following the court proceeding, Brodhead was heard telling his attorney, Ulster County Public Defender Andrew Kossover, that he “sold my soul” by pleading guilty.
Kossover said the decision to plead guilty was difficult for Brodhead, but he said the city resident agreed to plead to the reduced charge to put the matter behind him and “in the hopes that policecommunity relations in the city of Kingston can begin a healing process.”
In remarks from the bench, Kirschner also acknowledged the difficulty of the case, saying it had been “a long, difficult process for everyone involved.” He commended Brodhead and the attorneys for maintaining civility during the emotionally charged matter.
“Mr. Brodhead has been nothing but respectful and polite during this process,” Kirschner said.
“Hopefully this can begin a sense of healing, and if things need to be corrected, they can be,” the judge added.
Brodhead initially was charged with the misdemeanor of resisting arrest and the violations of violating the city’s open container law and littering.
On the day of his arrest, Brodhead was on his way home from work, walking with another man on Broadway in Kingston, when he was stopped by a police officer who said he saw Brodhead toss a brown paper bag that the officer suspected contained an open beer container.
In testimony at a pretrial hearing, Kingston Police Officer Kenneth Bagalonis said he arrested Brodhead after another officer arrived on the scene “because it was difficult getting information from the two men” — although the officer conceded under questioning that Brodhead gave him his name several times, spelling it at least once — and because Brodhead would not put his hands behind his back to be handcuffed.
Kingston Police Officer Kenneth Palmer testified that when he arrived, he heard one of the men yelling about the presence of so many police officers and Bagalonis tell Brodhead to put his hands behind his back so he could be cuffed. Palmer said when he grabbed Brodhead’s arm, Brodhead “started tensing up, so I took him to the ground.”
Brodhead subsequently was pepper-sprayed and tased before being charged.
City officials have said a number of the officers involved in the incident were disciplined for their actions, though the officials have declined to say who was disciplined or the nature of the discipline meted out.
Last October, Brodhead rejected a deal that would have allowed him to plead to the same charge he pleaded to on Wednesday.
If Brodhead had been convicted of the misdemeanor, he would have been left with that conviction on his record and could have faced a maximum sentence of one year in jail.
Brodhead still faces contempt charges in City Court for instances stemming from an Ulster County Family Court matter.