Cops probe 3 busts in the Bronx

The Internal Affairs Bureau will investigate three cases from a Bronx precinct that involved questionable arrests, the Daily News has learned.

The probe was sparked by a Daily News story about the 52nd Precinct, which was investigated last year by the Bronx District Attorney after defense lawyers and prosecutors raised concerns about tactics used in weapons arrests. The DA’s office concluded that police had not broken the law, so there were no criminal charges filed — and the NYPD did not discipline any officer. But lawyers insist bad arrests are still being made in the 52nd Precinct.

Eli Northrup, a Bronx Defenders lawyer involved in two cases where police actions were questioned, said Internal Affairs wants to see the video evidence from both cases.

One of his clients, Jayvon Keitt, 19, beat a gravity knife rap in February when a judge said Officer Christina Moncion “seemed very confused” about how Keitt was stopped and charged with felony weapons possession. Moncion’s testimony at a hearing contradicted her sworn criminal complaint, and video refuted other details of her account. The knife was ruled inadmissible and the charges were dismissed.

The other case involved Maxwell Forrest, 31, who did eight months on Rikers Island for gun possession. He and his girlfriend said cops entered their apartment on Feb. 11, 2017 without a warrant and tricked her into signing a consent form for the search four hours after he was seen on video being arrested. And Northrup said police changed the time of occurrence on court documents — first saying 8:30 p.m. then 1:15 a.m. on Feb. 12— to make it seem like they searched the apartment after the form was signed.

Northrup said IAB should have investigated the incident, including arresting Officer Joel Ayala, much sooner.

“I’m not at all surprised it took some sort of public shaming for this to happen,” Northrup said. “I think [the Police Department’s] general feeling when there are questions about testimony is, ‘The judge messed up.’”