A Connecticut police union has demanded a “modest apology” from the state's only Muslim lawmaker for attacking the way she handled an attack against her.
As State Representative Maryam Khan left an Eid al-Adha prayer service in June, she was punched in the face and choked in front of her young daughters by a man who told her he wanted to have sex with one of them.
At an emotional news conference three weeks later, she said important details had been missed in the police report and she was shocked at how the attack had been downplayed.
Now the Hartford police union says independent investigations have now cleared the officers involved, claiming their comments discouraged other women of color from seeking help.
“A modest apology to responding officers would be a positive step toward restoring eroded trust,” the union said in a statement.
Connecticut state Rep. Maryam Khan criticized the police response after she was attacked in front of her daughters as she left an Eid al-Adha prayer service by a man who told her he wanted to be with one of have sex with them
James Rutkowski of the Hartford Police Union said his officers had been exonerated and demanded an apology from Khan, claiming she discouraged other victims from seeking help
Khan's attacker, Andre Desmond, 30, is awaiting a mental competency evaluation to see if he is fit to stand trial on charges of second-degree unlawful oppression, third-degree assault, second-degree breach of peace and obstructing police
“Their assertion that Black and brown women are not safe in Hartford because of police ineptitude may have deterred individuals from seeking police assistance over the past seven months and may have left their calls for justice unanswered.”
Khan was outside Hartford's XL Center when she was approached by Andre Desmond, 30.
“He made comments about wanting to have sexual relations with someone, one of us, and he looked at each of us, including my 15-year-old daughter and my 10-year-old daughter,” she recalled.
Desmond chased her back to the center, grabbed her by the face and shirt and demanded a kiss.
“He got angry and hit me on the right cheek in the face,” she said.
“He held me back in a chokehold. His hand was shaped like a weapon.'
“My body went numb and I thought I was going to die.”
“He slammed my body to the ground and threw me. 'I didn't feel anything, but I shot up and ran for my life.'
Police recorded “minor injuries” and did not offer her medical attention, even though she suffered from a concussion, neck pain and shoulder numbness.
“I remember feeling like I had to convince her that I was hurt.” “My neck hurts, my neck is stiff.” And I sense something is wrong. Can someone please check on me?'
“All I've been thinking about these last few days is what's happening to women in the city of Hartford who call the police when they're attacked,” she told reporters.
“If they experience what I experienced, if they experience sexual assault, if they experience physical assault.”
“Because if this happens to me and this is the best thing we can do as a state representative representing the city of Hartford, I cannot be okay with it.”
But the police union hit back today, insisting that the responding officers acted in an “excellent, police and professional manner,” according to reports from the Hartford Police Department's Internal Affairs Division and the Hartford Civilian Police Review Board.
“A modest apology to responding officers would be a positive step toward restoring eroded trust,” it said.
“In addition, reflecting on the potential impact of their statements on the community and considering a more collaborative approach will contribute to the overall well-being of Hartford.”'
Desmond is awaiting a mental capacity evaluation to determine whether he is fit to stand trial on charges of second-degree unlawful oppression, third-degree assault, second-degree breach of peace and obstructing police.
Meanwhile, good Samaritan Jason Spencer, who came to Khan's aid, appeared in court last week to deny assault charges against Desmond during the incident.
“If I fought in a war zone to defend others, I am now at home.” “When I see someone needs help, I have to intervene, and that's what I think all citizens should do,” said the 43-year-old Veteran in court.
The XL Center in Hartford was welcoming 4,000 visitors to its annual Eid al-Adha prayer service when Khan and her daughters were attacked
The review found that the recording of the attack and the report police released to the media were flawed.
“While a wider review of the evidence resolved a number of Ms Khan's complaints, it also uncovered certain failings in police action,” it concluded.
“The reports did not fully capture victims’ and witnesses’ statements to officers, which is a significant error.”
“In an incident like this, where victims have been injured and there is a defendant who may be brought to justice, it is important that police accurately collect the statements of all witnesses and correctly identify those witnesses in their reports.”