New York
A judge sentenced a former New York City police officer to five years in prison this week for lying about his role in the torture of a Haitian immigrant, Abner Louima, in police custody five years ago. Judge Reena Raggi told Charles Schwarz he had disgraced the badge. In a case that brought national attention to the issue of police brutality, prosecutors accused Schwarz of holding Louima while another officer, Justin Volpe, sodomized him with a broken broomstick. A last-minute plea deal barred Schwarz from proclaiming his innocence, but ended the case without confirming who held Louima down. “I’m glad it’s finally over,” Louima said.
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