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Three men accuse cops of violence, anti-gay slur – Metro US

Three men accuse cops of violence, anti-gay slur

YouTube An amateur video shows the incident in which three men say a cop used an anti-gay slur during a confrontation with them on the morning of June 2. (YouTube)

Three Brooklyn men were joined by gay rights groups and anti-violence activists at One Police Plaza on Tuesday as they recounted a recent incident in which they claim they were assaulted by cops because they were gay.[videoembed id=167156]

Josh Williams, Ben Collins and Antonio Maenza say they were walking past the 79th Precinct police station in Bed-Stuy at about 4 a.m. on June 2 when a police officer accused Williams of public urination and threw him against a squad car.

The men say that the officer was joined by other officers who threw Williams to the ground and pepper sprayed him. They also said one of the officers used an anti-gay slur during the confrontation.

Police, on the other hand, say Williams was urinating on a dumpster in the parking lot of the precinct and was uncooperative when the officer approached him.

Williams was combative and appeared to be drunk, and the other two men interfered with the arrest, police said.

One of the men recorded the incident on video.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the Internal Affairs Bureau would review it.