NYPD sergeant pleads guilty to assaulting suspects

A sergeant with the New York Police Department will have to attend anger management classes and serve probation after pleading guilty to assault.

The Gothamist reports 16-year veteran Philip Wong attacked two people in his custody. Prosecutors say Wong pinned one man down with his knee and bounced on his back after the suspect kicked Wong and used anti-Asian slurs.

“I don’t give a f**k if you can breathe or not,” Wong is accused of yelling.

In another incident, Wong punched a man in custody after he spat at officers. Prosecutors say it happened in a jail cell and the man needed stitches above his eye.

According to ABC7 News, Wong pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors of assault in the third degree and attempted assault in the third degree.

He will serve two years probation and must perform 70 hours of community service.

Sources told the Post the internal affairs division had already begun an investigation against the sergeant when the second incident happened six months later.

Prosecutors requested that Wong be sentenced to 60 days in jail, but Judge Curtis Farber showed sympathy.

“Due to the stresses of this job, I understand that he snapped,” the judge said.

Farber called the sentence “just’ pointing out that Wong could lose both his job and his pension.

“Law enforcement officials are sworn to serve and protect their communities, including New Yorkers in their custody,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in a statement. “In this case, Sergeant Wong violated not only his oath – but the law – during the violent arrests of two New Yorkers, on two separate occasions.”

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