Pubdate: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 Source: Newsday (NY) Copyright: 2008 Newsday Inc. Contact: http://www.newsday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/308 Author: Pervaiz Shallwani, Special to Newsday Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?246 (Policing - United States) MAN TELLS GRAND JURY POLICE BEAT, SODOMIZED HIM Michael Mineo, the 24-year-old Brooklyn man who says he was beaten and sodomized by police officers on a subway platform, recounted his story to a grand jury yesterday, then told reporters he is glad his allegations are being taken seriously. "I was violated by police and I feel like they are going to be brought to justice," Mineo said. "At first I felt like people weren't even believing me. Now that things have come into the light, I feel a little bit more better. I know that these cops are going to be brought to justice. "That's what I want," he said. Mineo, who walks with a cane since the Oct. 15 incident, spoke outside State Supreme Court in Brooklyn after testifying for about a half-hour before the investigative grand jury that will decide whether to indict the four officers involved in subduing him at the Prospect Park station, in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. The four have been placed on modified duty, meaning their guns and shields were taken away and they were confined to a desk. An attorney for the officers declined to comment. The NYPD said Mineo was smoking marijuana outside the station, then fled inside when police approached. He was caught and issued a summons for disorderly conduct after eating the marijuana cigarette, police said. Mineo claims he was assaulted, with police using a radio to sodomize him. Two civilian witnesses did not see Mineo violated, police said, but his lawyers contend other witnesses have backed Mineo's account that he was attacked. A fifth officer, assigned to the transit bureau, is likely to cooperate with authorities and provide testimony supporting at least some of Mineo's contentions, according to sources briefed on the investigation. Mineo's injuries are consistent with sexual assault, his lawyers have quoted doctors as saying. Mineo, who was been hospitalized twice since the incident, says he has trouble eating and sleeping. He also said he was "shocked" that police officers would violate him this way. "These are people that are supposed to be protecting me, and they did this to me in broad daylight, in the afternoon," Mineo said. "I can't even step out of my own apartment. I am scared for my own safety. "I don't know what can happen to me if I step outside." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake