Videos: Parks Police Grab And Slam Artist To Ground In Washington Square Park
BY ELIZABETH KIM
OCT. 10, 2019 3:16 P.M.
• 15 COMMENTS
Parks officials arrested artist Oriel Ceballos on Sunday in Washington Square Park. GRIFFIN WOOD
An artist, who was grabbed and pushed to the ground by three New York City Parks officers at Washington Square Park, is accusing the individuals of using excessive force for a minor offense of displaying and selling art.
Oriel Ceballos, a locally known artist, said officers approached him on Sunday as he was exhibiting his work near one of the lampposts, not far from the fountain. In a tense and physical confrontation that was captured on video by several onlookers, officers held and grappled with him amid a crowd of alarmed spectators, many of whom shouted at the Parks officials to stop.
During one point, an officer sat on Ceballos's back and pinned him down to the ground as another officer tried to grab his arms to handcuff him. "Drop your hands," one of the officers screamed repeatedly. "Put your hands behind your back."
Ceballos was later arrested and charged with choking an officer, attempted assault and other offenses.
He denied assaulting any of the officers. He said at one point an officer grabbed him in a headlock. In one of the videos, a bystander can be heard saying, referring to one of the officers, "He was using a chokehold. He should be arrested."
According to Ceballos, he was also punched and pepper-sprayed in the face.
"It's burning, and I can't really breathe," he recalled in a phone call with Gothamist. “For a brief moment, I believed I was going to die just like Eric Garner. I now understand why he died.”
He said he repeatedly asked the Parks officials to call the police, who he said typically leave him alone. He added that he did not want to allow the officers to handcuff him because he felt it was a false arrest and wanted to wait for the NYPD to show up. He said he was never read his rights.
Photos and videos of the incident have been circulating on Instagram.
A spokesperson for the Parks Department issued the following statement: “This defendant has received multiple summonses and 311 complaints in recent months. On the day in question, officers asked him for identification to issue another summons for violating parks regulations. He refused to provide identification and the officer attempted to arrest him. This individual resisted arrest and began to choke the officer.”
Over the years, the Parks Department has been criticized for enforcing what some say is an unnecessary crackdown on the various musicians, artists, activists, poets that assemble in Washington Square Park.
In 2010, the Parks Department imposed a litany of rules and restrictions on individuals who sell or solicit donations, with fines ranging from $250 to $1,000. Artists, for example, are not permitted to have their artwork displayed on the ground. Individuals using amplified sound must have a permit.
Artists, performers and civil rights advocates have argued that they are expressing their freedom of speech and the parks' enforcement amounts to harassment. Parks officials said the rules are about balancing the interest of competing users, including those who want quiet relaxation, for green space in the city.
According to the Parks Department, the first course of action for enforcement officers is to talk to violators about the rules. The next step would be to issue a summons for those who fail to comply. The department said that only in rare cases does it proceed with any arrest.
Ceballos maintained that he was merely trying to stand his ground for a minor offense. “I think its time for citizens to have no fear and try to stand your ground in a way that doesn’t bring you harm,” he said.
Ceballos, who sells his art at Washington Square Park five to six days a week, said the rule requiring a table for artwork is rarely enforced.
“It’s like jaywalking,” he said, adding, “Unless they have a problem with you.”
He said he has had altercations with one of the officers before, leaving him to believe he was unfairly targeted. "She singles me out constantly," he said, about one of the officers seen holding him around his stomach. "There's a history there."
A spokesperson for the Parks Department did not respond to a request for the names of the officers.
Ceballos said he has been selling his art in Washington Square Park for roughly two years and that his work has been exhibited in various shows across the city. A father of two who lives in New Jersey, he said he has a good relationship with park goers.
On Instagram, individuals shared photos and messages of support.
After being taken by Parks officials to the 6th precinct, he was released on Monday morning. Ceballos, who is due in court next month, said he was in the process of hiring a lawyer. He told Gothamist he intended to sue the Parks Department over what he believes was an illegal arrest.
Immediately after being released, he said he promptly returned to the park, if only to verify that it really did happen. "I just needed to be back at this place and speak to people who were there," he said.
Tone Commander • 33 minutes ago
that'll teach him. he should have been selling shitty coke everyone knows that.
Snarfyguy • 29 minutes ago • edited
"Parks officials said the rules were about balancing the interest of competing users, including those who want quiet relaxation, for green space in the city."
Nobody goes to the fountain in WSP for quiet relaxation.
Also, those park officer guys are assholes.
JenVegas goretex • 20 minutes ago
Right? This is not a place of quiet contemplation.
BY ELIZABETH KIM
OCT. 10, 2019 3:16 P.M.
• 15 COMMENTS
Parks officials arrested artist Oriel Ceballos on Sunday in Washington Square Park. GRIFFIN WOOD
An artist, who was grabbed and pushed to the ground by three New York City Parks officers at Washington Square Park, is accusing the individuals of using excessive force for a minor offense of displaying and selling art.
Oriel Ceballos, a locally known artist, said officers approached him on Sunday as he was exhibiting his work near one of the lampposts, not far from the fountain. In a tense and physical confrontation that was captured on video by several onlookers, officers held and grappled with him amid a crowd of alarmed spectators, many of whom shouted at the Parks officials to stop.
During one point, an officer sat on Ceballos's back and pinned him down to the ground as another officer tried to grab his arms to handcuff him. "Drop your hands," one of the officers screamed repeatedly. "Put your hands behind your back."
Ceballos was later arrested and charged with choking an officer, attempted assault and other offenses.
He denied assaulting any of the officers. He said at one point an officer grabbed him in a headlock. In one of the videos, a bystander can be heard saying, referring to one of the officers, "He was using a chokehold. He should be arrested."
According to Ceballos, he was also punched and pepper-sprayed in the face.
"It's burning, and I can't really breathe," he recalled in a phone call with Gothamist. “For a brief moment, I believed I was going to die just like Eric Garner. I now understand why he died.”
He said he repeatedly asked the Parks officials to call the police, who he said typically leave him alone. He added that he did not want to allow the officers to handcuff him because he felt it was a false arrest and wanted to wait for the NYPD to show up. He said he was never read his rights.
Photos and videos of the incident have been circulating on Instagram.
A spokesperson for the Parks Department issued the following statement: “This defendant has received multiple summonses and 311 complaints in recent months. On the day in question, officers asked him for identification to issue another summons for violating parks regulations. He refused to provide identification and the officer attempted to arrest him. This individual resisted arrest and began to choke the officer.”
Over the years, the Parks Department has been criticized for enforcing what some say is an unnecessary crackdown on the various musicians, artists, activists, poets that assemble in Washington Square Park.
In 2010, the Parks Department imposed a litany of rules and restrictions on individuals who sell or solicit donations, with fines ranging from $250 to $1,000. Artists, for example, are not permitted to have their artwork displayed on the ground. Individuals using amplified sound must have a permit.
Artists, performers and civil rights advocates have argued that they are expressing their freedom of speech and the parks' enforcement amounts to harassment. Parks officials said the rules are about balancing the interest of competing users, including those who want quiet relaxation, for green space in the city.
According to the Parks Department, the first course of action for enforcement officers is to talk to violators about the rules. The next step would be to issue a summons for those who fail to comply. The department said that only in rare cases does it proceed with any arrest.
Ceballos maintained that he was merely trying to stand his ground for a minor offense. “I think its time for citizens to have no fear and try to stand your ground in a way that doesn’t bring you harm,” he said.
Ceballos, who sells his art at Washington Square Park five to six days a week, said the rule requiring a table for artwork is rarely enforced.
“It’s like jaywalking,” he said, adding, “Unless they have a problem with you.”
He said he has had altercations with one of the officers before, leaving him to believe he was unfairly targeted. "She singles me out constantly," he said, about one of the officers seen holding him around his stomach. "There's a history there."
A spokesperson for the Parks Department did not respond to a request for the names of the officers.
Ceballos said he has been selling his art in Washington Square Park for roughly two years and that his work has been exhibited in various shows across the city. A father of two who lives in New Jersey, he said he has a good relationship with park goers.
On Instagram, individuals shared photos and messages of support.
After being taken by Parks officials to the 6th precinct, he was released on Monday morning. Ceballos, who is due in court next month, said he was in the process of hiring a lawyer. He told Gothamist he intended to sue the Parks Department over what he believes was an illegal arrest.
Immediately after being released, he said he promptly returned to the park, if only to verify that it really did happen. "I just needed to be back at this place and speak to people who were there," he said.
- Matthew Savoury • 33 minutes ago • edited
"Put your hands behind your back, while I am laying on your back, choking you, while additional officers are also holding your hands to your side."
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Tone Commander • 33 minutes ago
that'll teach him. he should have been selling shitty coke everyone knows that.
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Snarfyguy • 29 minutes ago • edited
"Parks officials said the rules were about balancing the interest of competing users, including those who want quiet relaxation, for green space in the city."
Nobody goes to the fountain in WSP for quiet relaxation.
Also, those park officer guys are assholes.
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goretex Snarfyguy • 25 minutes ago
wow. there's never been a time when that area was not lively.
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JenVegas goretex • 20 minutes ago
Right? This is not a place of quiet contemplation.
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qdpb Snarfyguy • 17 minutes ago
Nobody goes to the fountain in WSP for quiet relaxation.
A lot of people do, actually. It is a small park serving a very large neighborhood. Tons of people are there, most of whom want some quiet.
However, if this really was about relaxation, they would do something about the annoyingly loud show time people.
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edgie qdpb • 16 minutes ago
Yeah, you've never actually been there before.
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Bubbles Snarfyguy • 17 minutes ago
Some people go there to stand their ground.
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The_Lisa • 25 minutes ago
I have never interacted with Parks Dept. officers - are they overcompensating for not making the cut at the police academy?
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DorasChestRug • 20 minutes ago
That did not deescalate quickly.
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Mister Sterling • 20 minutes ago • edited
Oh great, another lawless, out of control law enforcement agency. At least the City Council can eliminate the damn Parks Police. Get it done.Make them disappear. That's a logical solution.
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Rocknrope • 14 minutes ago
“This defendant has received multiple summonses and 311 complaints in recent months.
I want to know the passive aggressive snitches who 311'd this guy and narc'd him out.
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DorasChestRug • 14 minutes ago
Is this how my 40k dollars in state taxes is being used? You're the disgrace. And your uniforms are ugly.
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Cornelius Tacitus • 13 minutes ago
He is one of the "most kindest strangers" in New York.
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Snarfyguy • 12 minutes ago
I take my kid to this park all the time and if she had to see a spectacle like this I would be very upset on her behalf. The park officer should not be making violent arrests.
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