hamail waddell

Hamail Waddell, whose arrest by a Binghamton police officer was deemed an excessive use of force by the New York attorney general’s office, is facing charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. The Binghamton city judge who heard testimony last week in the two-day bench trial is expected to deliver a verdict later this month.

Hamail Waddell is denying a plea deal offered in response to his violent arrest earlier this year, as his attorneys allege the city of Binghamton is influencing the legal proceedings.

The City of Binghamton’s Human Rights Commission has been effectively defunct since 2016 when city council gave full control over nominations to the panel to the mayor.

A lawsuit is still pending against the city of Binghamton and Officer Brad Kaczynski dating back to a 2011 incident where a man alleges he was beaten while in custody.

Protestors were ordered to disperse after gathering to raise the profile of the killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis and the New Year’s Day arrest of Hamail Waddell in downtown Binghamton.

Democrats on Binghamton City Council proposed legislation to hire a third party to conduct an independent investigation of the arrest of Hamail Waddell earlier this month, which Mayor Jared Kraham says is “moot” now the attorney general is involved.

Activists allege the Binghamton police officer involved in the violent arrest of a Black Asian man on New Year's Day was once employed by the district as a school resource officer.

During the arrest, officer Brad Kacynski [kuh-ZIHN-skee] was seen kneeling on Hamail Waddell’s neck.

Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham said an investigation into the violent arrest of Hamail Waddell on New Year’s Day remains ongoing, with no exact timeline for its conclusion.

Activists call on the city to act after officer kneels on man’s neck during arrest.