Aaron Torgalski has been identified through his tag together of the 2 Buffalo, ny cops seen shoving a 75 year old man during a viral video that has been viewed many times.
Torgalski’s name was visible on his police badge within the video. the opposite officer’s name isn’t yet known. There isn’t another Torgalski listed on the Buffalo police . A Change.org petition demanding that Buffalo police fire Torgalski has thousands of signatures.
The viral video viewed quite 17 million times shows Buffalo, ny cops shove a 75 year old man to the bottom then walk by him as he lies, bleeding from the top , on the pavement. Government salaries.com says, “Aaron Torgalski M in 2018 was employed in City Of Buffalo and had annual salary of $81,419.”
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It appears that one of the officers that shoved and gave a serious head wound to this peaceful protester name is
AARON TORGALSKI of the BUFFALO, NY POLICE DEPT.
Send tweet to this address for the Buffalo Police.
This is criminal assault.@BPDAlerts pic.twitter.com/rLnOnUptNg
— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) June 5, 2020
Torgalski’s LinkedIn page verifies that he’s a Buffalo policeman . The page has now been deleted.
Torgalski is registered to vote as a Republican in Erie County.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Buffalo’s mayor both released statements about the incident.
“This incident is wholly unjustified and utterly disgraceful,” Cuomo wrote. “I’ve spoken with Buffalo @MayorByronBrown and that we agree that the officers involved should be immediately suspended pending a proper investigation. cops must enforce — NOT ABUSE — the law.”
Earlier, there was a special scene. consistent with the Investigative Post, “police and protestors knelt together within the minutes leading up to the city’s 8 p.m. curfew. Some then shook hands, even hugged…” John Losi was the detective who “led the trouble .” Some on Twitter have alleged that Losi appears within the shoving video, consistent with the Investigative Post.
Here’s what you would like to know:
The Mayor Said the 2 Officers Were Suspended
— Byron W. Brown (@MayorByronBrown) June 5, 2020
Aaron Torgalski pushed an elderly man who was trying to return an officers helmet he found clearly. Torgalski was clearly abusing his power as a policeman for NO REASON. Other officers were encouraging officer Torgalski to push him. The push was strong enough to form the old man fall backwards and crack his head and begin bleeding. Aaron Torgalski shouldn’t be on top of things of our safety! This man doesn’t deserve a badge! This man shouldn’t be allowed to carry a gun and perform the law! Fire him! and therefore the others invovled (sic)!!! If we get enough people to sign they can’t ignore us. they ought to be fired! This man makes $80,000 a year to push an old man who didn’t provoke him. END POLICE BRUTALITY.
The mayor, Byron W. Brown, released a statement:
Tonight, after a physical altercation between two separate groups of protesters participating in an illegal demonstration beyond the curfew, two Buffalo cops knocked down a 75 year old man. The victim is in stable but serious condition at ECMC. i used to be deeply disturbed by the video, as was Buffalo commissioner Byron Lockwood. He directed an instantaneous investigation into the matter and therefore the two officers are suspended without pay. After days of peaceful protests and a number of other meetings between myself, Police leadership and members of the community, tonight’s event is disheartening. I hope to still repose on the progress we’ve achieved as we work together to deal with racial injustice and inequity within the City of Buffalo. My thoughts are with the victim tonight.
The man has not been identified. WBFO-TV reported, “Just about an hour ago, cops shove man in Niagara Square to the bottom (WARNING: Graphic).” The station shared this video:
Just about an hour ago, police officers shove man in Niagara Square to the ground (WARNING: Graphic). Video from: @MikeDesmondWBFO pic.twitter.com/JBKQLvzfET
— WBFO (@WBFO) June 5, 2020
The video shows officers with face shields and batons walking down the road en bloc . Officers appear to shove a person wearing a mask. He then falls down on the bottom , where he lies motionless. “He’s bleeding out of his ear,” someone says, but the officers keep walking. one among the 2 officers has been identified because his tag is visible within the video: Aaron Torgalski.
The man lies motionless on the pavement. Officers take another person in custody. “You better get an ambulance for him,” an individual says. “We have an EMT on scene,” a person responds.
The Incident Occurred Shortly After Buffalo Instituted a Curfew
Current situation in #Buffalo as police work to enforce the 8 p.m. curfew in Niagara Square. Caution: there is some vulgar language in the video. Tune to @SPECNewsBuffalo for the latest. Video Courtesy: Photojournalist Anthony Nelson pic.twitter.com/nP4AXgQGeR
— Katie Gibas (@KatieGibasTV) June 5, 2020
According to WBFO, the incident occurred shortly after Buffalo’s curfew went into effect. “City police and State Police swept through the world of Niagara Square directly ahead of hall to clear the world where a protest was finishing,” the station reported. The station said the person was unidentified but he was 75 years old. He was “shoved by two officers within the line.”
The station reported that the person was in serious but stable condition at a neighborhood hospital, and Buffalo police said, “a 5th person was arrested during a skirmish with other protestors and also charged with disorderly behavior . During that skirmish involving protestors, one person was injured when he tripped & fell.”
Here’s another view:
Journalist Marlee Tuskes wrote, “From BPD Capt. Jeff Rinaldo: Internal Affairs immediately opened an investigation into the incident, ordered by commissioner Byron Lockwood. State police medics rendered aid. A source tells me the person suffered from a laceration and possible concussion.” Katie Gibas, another journalist, wrote, “The gentleman has been removed in an ambulance but seemed to be alert.”
Other Videos Have Gone Viral During the Unrest
WATCH: I was recording when the first clash between police & protestors broke out in Atlanta. @cbs46 #cbs46 #news #GeorgeFloydprotest pic.twitter.com/hrDBk1Plry
— Brittany Miller (@Brittm_tv) May 29, 2020
There was a somewhat similar video earlier in Salt Lake City. That disturbing viral video shows a policeman in Salt Lake City, Utah, pushing an old man with a cane to the bottom . you’ll watch the video here:
That incident was captured on live television.
A series of other intense videos also emerged from cities throughout the country as George Floyd protests and riots escalated into violence in some areas. for instance , in Chicago there was an all-out street brawl between cops and protesters, consistent with this video. In Atlanta, a video caught a bicycle officer shoving a motorcycle at a lady . Protesters threw an American flag during a river outside Trump Tower in Chicago. In ny City, videos captured two NYPD squad cars running over protesters.