WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — A detective in a New York City suburb who was accused of using a stun gun on a suspect already in handcuffs was acquitted Thursday of violating the man’s civil rights.
Sleepy Hollow Detective Jose Quinoy, 37, also was acquitted of witness tampering. He had been accused of trying to influence the testimony of a fellow officer who made recordings for the FBI.
The federal jury in White Plains deadlocked on a charge that Quinoy punched and kicked a second restrained suspect. Prosecutors are expected to announce next month whether they plan to retry the detective on that count.
The incident that led to the not guilty verdict occurred in December 2006. The suspect, Luis Vilches, had been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Quinoy. He claimed Quinoy said he would have sex with Vilches’ daughter, which Quinoy denied. Prosecutors said Quinoy used a stun gun on Vilches after Vilches was already in handcuffs.
In the case that led to the jury deadlock, suspect Mario Gomez had been incensed by rumors that Quinoy was seeing Gomez’s daughter, which the married detective denied. Quinoy testified that he arrested Gomez after Gomez threatened him and showed up at the police station.
A fellow officer testified that Quinoy punched Gomez while Gomez’s hands were cuffed and kicked him while he was in a police car.
In closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Dunne called Quinoy “a bully who preyed upon his vulnerable victims.” Defense lawyer Andrew Quinn told the jury that an FBI agent destroyed evidence that could clear Quinoy.
Quinoy has been suspended without pay from the Sleepy Hollow force since he was indicted in April 2009. The village is about 25 miles north of New York City.