News/Commentary

Legal battle ensues after woman who allegedly slaps cop gets it right back, and then some

September 1, 2022 | | Print Article

A New York City union for active and retired detectives is threatening to sue a 19-year-old woman who interfered in the recent arrest of a suspect.

The arrest has gone uber-viral because during it, the woman, Tamani Crum, got knocked to the ground by detective Kendo Kinsey after she refused to get out of the way.

The altercation was captured on camera.

Watch (*Graphic content):

“The footage shows a chaotic arrest that gets even more chaotic after the woman in the frame, identified as 19-year-old Tamani Crum, confronts an officer as he is arresting a man Crum reportedly knows,” according to CBS News.

“The woman engages the officer and appears to slap him, and he responds with what looks like a wallop of a punch, causing her to fall backward on to the pavement. She is then seen getting picked up off the ground and taken into custody.”

After the video went viral, Crum’s family began to complain.

“He cold knocked her out. He’s no better than the people who is knocking people out in the street,” her grandmother told local station WCBS.

“The officer involved in this case was approximately three times her body weight and size. This was unnecessary and it’s unacceptable. This has to stop,” the family lawyer, Jaime Santana Jr., added.

Guess who also decided to get involved? Al Sharpton and his National Action Network, which is reportedly now calling for an investigation.

Not surprisingly, the family likewise now “says the detective should be held accountable and that Crum, who has no criminal record, is suffering from injuries,” according to CBS News.

The Detectives’ Endowment Association union strongly disagrees. In a statement, DEA president Paul DiGiacomo slammed the emerging narrative that detective Kinsey had done something wrong. He also said the union is considering filing a lawsuit against Crum.

“Criminals in NY have grown accustomed to there being no consequences for their dangerous, illegal acts — but when you assault a New York City Detective in order to interfere with an arrest of a man armed with a gun there are repercussions,” he said.

“As the DEA explores a possible civil suit on behalf of our dedicated member against the woman who attacked him, we urge politicians to open their eyes and see the public safety disaster they’ve created. As for Al Sharpton’s insane comments, he should be worried about the thousands of actual crime victims in this city and not the limelight and lining of his pockets.”

It’s not clear what comments from Sharpton that DiGiacomo was referencing. That said, in a statement to the Daily Mail, he said that there’s been talk from Sharpton’s side of the aisle of a lawsuit being filed against Kinsey.

“They said they’re going to be filing a civil suit. We’re going to be looking to file a civil suit as well, against the woman,” he told the outlet.

DiGiacomo also defended Kinsey’s tough actions.

“This individual [the suspect being arrested] was in possession of a loaded, illegal firearm, and her interference in that arrest could have cost the police officers as well as other innocent people their lives because they had to divert their attention away from the armed suspect to her,” he said.

The suspect has since been identified as 22-year-old Elvin James. He’s reportedly Crum’s boyfriend. And not surprisingly, he’s reportedly also one very bad hombre.

“James was found with a loaded ghost gun and drugs during the arrest, officials said. He was charged with assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, criminal possession of a weapon- loaded firearm, criminal possession of a weapon- defaced weapon, criminal possession of a weapon- ammo clip, criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a firearm, and obstructing governmental administration,” according to local station WPIX.

As for Crum, she’s been cut a break given her age and lack of a criminal history.

“Police initially charged Crum with assault on a cop, obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest,” according to the New York Daily News.

“But at arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday night, Crum was released without having to post bail after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office reduced the charges to a misdemeanor count of obstructing governmental administration.”

New York Police Department sources who spoke with the Daily News also expressed agreement with DiGiacomo’s analysis of what had transpired.

“That guy had a loaded firearm on him. If she was successful in stopping the arrest, then he could have pulled that gun and hurt someone,” one source said.

“A lot of people see cops struggling and wrestling with people. But they have to understand that punching someone is a justifiable action, too,” another source added.

Vivek Saxena
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