Published May 21, 2015
The Arizona police officer who used his cruiser to ram into an armed suspect has a prior use of force record in New York City.
Records show that Officer Michael Rapiejko of the Marana Police Department was sued in May 2008 by a man who said the officer pointed a gun at him and choked him.
The city settled with the man, Luis Colon, for $20,000.
Police say Rapiejko has no use of force complaints against him in Marana, a suburb of Tucson. They have defended his actions on Feb. 19 when Rapiejko used his police cruiser to ram into 36-year-old Mario Valencia. Police say Valencia was carrying a stolen rifle and had fired a shot into the sky.
He did not sustain serious injuries and is in jail.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/police-officer-who-rammed-cruiser-into-armed-suspect-has-use-of-force-history