Metro

Trial to begin for cop who pulled gun on snowball throwers

An NYPD cop who angrily pulled a gun on five young men after one of them hit him with a snowball while he was off duty will be on the defensive Tuesday as a Bronx civil trial gets under way at which he stands accused of false arrest and battery.

Adonis Ramirez, 34, told responding police he drew his weapon and forced the men to the ground Feb. 26, 2010, because they hit him with several snowballs, followed him, and said, “Let’s jump him,” in Spanish.

The men were charged with attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

But surveillance footage released months later shows only one snowball was thrown at Ramirez and then ducking behind his friends during the Highbridge incident, and he wasn’t chased.

“This guy brings a loaded gun to a snowball fight. It’s an incredible abuse of power by a bully with a badge,” said attorney Neil Wollerstein, who represents Johnathan Rodriguez, Christian Perez, Manuel Rondon, Ariel Lopez and Anthony Aquino in their suit against Ramirez and the NYPD.

Wollerstein said he’ll call Ramirez as his first witness.

All charges against the men were eventually dropped by the Bronx district attorney.

Ramirez could not be reached for comment, and the city Law Department declined to comment.