Syracuse, NY — On Friday, Feb. 10, two Syracuse residents filed the first complaint about police misconduct with the newly reorganized Citizen Review Board. The complaint stems from an incident that took place on Jan. 19 between individuals at the Occupy Syracuse site and the Syracuse Police Department.

According to a press release issued by the Answer Coalition, Adam C’DeBaca, 28, and his wife, Risa, 27 had been at Occupy Syracuse between 1:00 – 3:00 am. Shortly after leaving, they received a call that the police were moving in to destroy the encampment. They both rushed back to bear witness to the eviction. They parked in the lot behind the encampment, entering on S. Clinton St. They got out of the car and began walking toward the site, at which point an officer told them to stop.

C’DeBaca’s statement further says the officer then rushed toward them and threw them up against a nearby sedan. The officer twisted Risa C’DeBaca’s arm so forcefully that his nails dug into her skin, leaving a mark, despite the three layers of winter clothing that she was wearing.

Risa and Adam C’DeBaca, are both activists with the Syracuse Answer Coalition, have brought a formal complaint against the police, filing it with both the Syracuse Police Department and the Citizen Review Board.