Following Vaccaro Arraignment, New Rochelle PBA President Lashes Out at District Attorney, Local Media

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The day after the arraignment of New Rochelle Police Detective Michael Vaccaro on charges related to a shocking police brutality video, New Rochelle PBA President Christopher Greco issued a statement attacking Westchester County DA Mimi Rocah and “local media”, going so far as to put Rocah’s email address in his Facebook post. Greco says, “Rocah and the local media” do not want the public to know “the full story”.

UPDATE JULY 1: New Rochelle Police Detective Arraigned on Charges Stemming from Police Brutality Cell Phone Video

“Mimi Rocah is a threat to Westchester County residents and to police officers and to their families,” said Greco. “Mimi Rocah is simply bad for Westchester. Handcuffing good cops and weak on real crime — you are now less safe with her in office.”

Greco says New Rochelle Police Commissioner Joe Schaller referred the case to the DA for political reasons, not expecting an arrest.

Greco described Malik Fogg, the man Vaccaro is seen punching in a cell phone video, as a dangerous, reckless, stalker who was not punched while in custody or under control.

Greco’s full statement:

Westchester County DA Mimi Rocah and the local media DO NOT want you to know the full story and do not want you to see the level of violence displayed by Malik Fogg during his cruel attack on his very own mother. The District Attorney’s office has shamefully and deliberately manipulated the press and the facts of this case to target a police detective instead of the real criminal, Malik Fogg. The New Rochelle Police Commissioner did not refer the case to the DA expecting an arrest but rather to recuse their agency and to show transparency to the community on the heels of police reform. Following a full investigation, former New Rochelle Police Commissioner Schaller urged the DA not to make the arrest.

The actual facts are these: Malik Fogg violently stalked, chased and attacked his own mother in broad daylight. Detective Vacarro was off duty when he witnessed this violent attack. Like all police officers, he stepped up and responded to assist this mother in her time of need.

Distracted by Detective Vacarro from further harming his mother, she was able to flee to safety and because of that, Fogg recklessly and dangerously pursued Detective Vacarro through the streets of New Rochelle, driving into oncoming traffic, and almost striking a pedestrian. Detective Vacarro made every attempt to elude Malik Fogg. Detective Vacarro had a duty to exit his vehicle and “back-up” the first uniformed officer who responded to his calls for assistance. Upon exiting his vehicle, Detective Vacarro immediately identified himself to Malik Fogg as a police officer (twice); Malik Fogg refused to comply with repeated commands, refused to allow a uniformed officer to check him for weapons, resisted arrest, threatened Detective Vacarro numerous times, and attempted to punch Detective Vacarro. Malik Fogg fought off and escaped the hold of three police officers trying to arrest him; it eventually took four police officers to finally subdue and handcuff him. It was not until after Malik Fogg was handcuffed that officers were able to determine if Malik Fogg was in possession of a weapon. Malik Fogg WAS NOT injured and WAS NEVER punched while in custody or under control. The New Rochelle Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office determined that Malik Fogg’s actions were illegal and appropriately arrested him on criminal charges; but DA Mimi Rocah and her closest advisors have since dropped the most serious criminal charges and refused to file any charges related to the attack on his mother. Instead, Detective Vacarro is now being maliciously targeted for criminal prosecution by Westchester DA Mimi Rocah for political capital.

A mother is alive and safe because Detective Vacarro did what all good police officers do.

The politics must stop. The unfair media coverage must stop and the truth must prevail.

Mimi Rocah is a threat to Westchester County residents and to police officers and to their families. Mimi Rocah is simply bad for Westchester. Handcuffing good cops and weak on real crime — you are now less safe with her in office.

Christopher Greco

PBA President

MRocah@westchesterda.net

Westchester County District Attorney’s Office #policebeforepolitics #DropTheCharges

The Facebook post includes a photo montage created from images taken from witness cell phone video and CCTV cameras at the Super Gas station on Main Street:

Greco refuses to answer questions from Talk of the Sound.