Charges withdrawn against cops charged with wounding

Jose Ortiz

Two cops, who were accused of brutalizing a Magistrate’s Court bailiff, agreed to settle the matter out of court, resulting in criminal charges as well as a civil suit being dismissed. The officers, forty-six year old Sergeant Jose Ortiz and forty-one year old Police Constable Leonardo Yama, were charged with Wounding for an alleged attack on Gabriel Casey in September, 2011.  That case was expected to go to trial today, but attorney, Dickie Bradley had indicated from back in April that the officers were negotiating with Casey.

Leonardo Yama

This morning, both men appeared before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer, where the charge of wounding as well as the civil suit were struck out because the complainant has requested no further action in the matter.  Casey, in a letter to the court, indicated that he has been compensated, but the amount the settlement was not released. Sergeant Ortiz and P.C. Yama were accused of beating Casey inside a local bar after he reportedly told them that it was a disgrace for them to be seen drinking in their uniforms. Since the charges in September, 2011, the two officers had been on interdiction and receiving only half their salary.