{"id":429952,"date":"2022-04-11T17:18:41","date_gmt":"2022-04-11T14:18:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/buffalo-cops-who-shoved-75-year-old-blm-protester-cleared\/"},"modified":"2022-04-11T17:18:41","modified_gmt":"2022-04-11T14:18:41","slug":"buffalo-cops-who-shoved-75-year-old-blm-protester-cleared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buffalo-cops-who-shoved-75-year-old-blm-protester-cleared\/","title":{"rendered":"#Buffalo cops who shoved 75-year-old BLM protester cleared"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a29a0462f62a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a29a0462f62a\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buffalo-cops-who-shoved-75-year-old-blm-protester-cleared\/#%E2%80%9CBuffalo_cops_who_shoved_75-year-old_BLM_protester_cleared%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Buffalo cops who shoved 75-year-old BLM protester cleared&#8221;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CBuffalo_cops_who_shoved_75-year-old_BLM_protester_cleared%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Buffalo cops who shoved 75-year-old BLM protester cleared&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Two Buffalo police officers caught on camera shoving an elderly protester to the ground \u2013 fracturing his skull \u2013 have been cleared of wrongdoing in the incident.<\/p>\n<p>A state arbitrator ruled Friday that Officers Aaron Torgalski and Robert McCabe didn\u2019t violate department use-of-force guidelines when they pushed longtime activist Martin Gugino, 75, to the ground during a George Floyd protest outside City Hall in June 2020, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/buffalonews.com\/news\/local\/buffalo-cops-who-pushed-protester-martin-gugino-to-ground-cleared-of-wrongdoing\/article_a3618094-b777-11ec-8a0f-cff389273da2.html#tracking-source=most-popular-homepage\">the Buffalo News reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Torgalski and McCabe were suspended without pay and faced felony second-degree assault charges, but a grand jury declined to indict them in February.<\/p>\n<p>Video of the encounter showed the officers yell at Gugino to move away from City Hall after a curfew went into effect before one cop pushed him, causing him to fall backward and slam his head into the pavement. He spent about a month in the hospital recovering from a fractured skull and brain injury.<\/p>\n<p>The officers testified before an arbitrator that they were trying to protect themselves at the time and denied trying to hurt Gugino. Arbitrator Jeffrey Selchick ruled the use of force was \u201cabsolutely legitimate\u201d and that Gugino was \u201cdefinitely not an innocent bystander,\u201d the Buffalo <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Aaron Torgalski and Robert McCabe.\" class=\"wp-image-21854074\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>A state arbitrator ruled that Officers Aaron Torgalski and Robert McCabe didn\u2019t violate department use-of-force guidelines when they pushed Martin Gugino.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Erie County DA\/EPA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThere is no persuasive evidence, particularly when the [footage] is reviewed in its various frames, that the [officers] sought to push or drive Gugino to the ground,\u201d Selchick wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Gugino likely lost his balance because he was carrying items in both hands, his age or shock that the cops tried to push him away, Selchick determined.<\/p>\n<p>Torgalski also testified he was concerned Gugino was getting close to his service weapon and was worried about catching COVID-19 from the protester.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-martin-gugino-2.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Man shoved by police.\" class=\"wp-image-21854103\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-martin-gugino-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-martin-gugino-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-martin-gugino-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Video of the encounter showed the officers yell at Martin Gugino to move away from City Hall after a curfew went into effect.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">WBFO via REUTERS TV<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-martin-gugino-3.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Man shoved by police.\" class=\"wp-image-21854121\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-martin-gugino-3.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-martin-gugino-3.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-martin-gugino-3.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>One cop is seen pushing Martin Gugino, causing him to fall backward and slam his head into the pavement.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">WBFO via REUTERS TV<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-martin-gugino-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Police knock down old man.\" class=\"wp-image-21854085\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-martin-gugino-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-martin-gugino-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/aaron-torgalski-robert-mccabe-martin-gugino-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Martin Gugino spent about a month in the hospital recovering from a fractured skull and brain injury.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Mike Desmond\/WBFO NPR\/AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cSomething wasn\u2019t right and I don\u2019t know what this gentlemen is capable of, but something [was] off about the situation that makes you feel uneasy,\u201d Torgalski reportedly testified. \u201cI steadied my right arm and attempted to get him out of my space and push him away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The suspended cops were put back on city payroll 30 days after the incident, which went viral on <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social media<\/a>. They\u2019ll be reinstated to full duty on Monday, the newspaper reported.<\/p>\n<p>An attorney for Gugino, who has sued the city, said the arbitrator\u2019s ruling did not come as a surprise.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/martin-gugino-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Martin Gugino.\" class=\"wp-image-21854131\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/martin-gugino-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/martin-gugino-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/martin-gugino-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Martin Gugino said he went to City Hall to voice his displeasure over a curfew imposed by Mayor Byron Brown during Black Lives Matter protests.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Facebook<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWe are not aware of any case where this arbitrator has ruled against on-duty police officers, so his ruling here on behalf of the police was not only expected by us, but was certainly expected by the union and city who selected and paid him,\u201d attorney Melissa Wischerath said. \u201cHis decision has absolutely no bearing on the pending lawsuit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gugino, for his part, has said he went to City Hall to voice his displeasure over a curfew imposed by Mayor Byron Brown during Black Lives Matter protests.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe point was suppressing dissent \u2026 a peaceful protest \u2026 and you can\u2019t do that,\u201d Gugino told the Buffalo News last year. \u201cSo I went there to talk to the policemen.\u201d\n                        <\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more News articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/04\/11\/buffalo-cops-who-shoved-75-year-old-blm-protester-cleared\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Buffalo cops who shoved 75-year-old BLM protester cleared&#8221; Two Buffalo police officers caught on camera shoving an elderly protester to the ground \u2013 fracturing his skull \u2013 have been cleared of wrongdoing in the incident. A state arbitrator ruled Friday that Officers Aaron Torgalski and Robert McCabe didn\u2019t violate department use-of-force guidelines when they pushed&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":429953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/newspress-collage-21853337-1649686330236.png?w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[127847,1471,74359,4943,70446,72032,1689],"class_list":["post-429952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-4-11-22","tag-black-lives-matter","tag-buffalo-new-york","tag-george-floyd","tag-lawsuits","tag-police-officers","tag-protesters"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/429952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=429952"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/429952\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/429953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=429952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=429952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=429952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}