Retaliatory Police Beating for Cable TV Host? (fwd)
rosaphil
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 06:13:05 -0400
From: DDeBar <spi...@BestWeb.net>
To: rosaphil <rug...@interport.net>
Subject: Retaliatory Police Beating for Cable TV Host?
Here is updated situation regarding Clay Tiffany:
The information herein is based upon heresay. I believe it to be true.
DDeBar
Briarcliff Manor, NY, is a wealthy suburban village in Westchester County.
It is also the home of controversial Cable TV host Clay Tiffany, and, it is
alleged, the site of a recent retaliatory police beating.
Tiffany hosts a Public Access show in Westchester County, and its environs.
He speaks about many issues, including police brutality and official
corruption.
The alleged behavior of one Briarcliff Manor police officer, P.O Nicholas
Tartaglione, has been a frequent topic on the show. This officer has been
accused by Tiffany on numerous occasions of various illegal acts and/or
violations of Tiffany's, and other's, civil rights. On several occasions,
(and, perhaps, consequently) Tiffany has been arrested in Briarcliff Manor,
by this officer, on nuisance violations that require little corroboration
by objective witnesses, Also, Tiffany was recently arrested in Yonkers, NY
(where this particular officer was, allegedly, formerly employed) in an
incident where this officer alleged Tiffany was stalking him, which Tiffany
denies, and where Tiffany alleges the officer beat him, broke his nose, and
put a gun to his head. (Tiffany was arrested by Yonkers police following
the incident, and the charges are pending.) Also, Officer Tartaglione had a
restraining order against Tiffany.
Tiffany said that another Briarcliff officer had learned last week (week of
7/10/99) of the time and place of Tiffany's ritual of swimming in the
Hudson and said "now we're gonna get you." He claims to have filed a
report of this incident with the Briarcliff Manor police department. He
also claims that he asked Briarcliff Manor Police Chief Ron Trainham if the
police would arrest him for coming out of the river into Scarborough Park
at night after his swim, and that Trainham said that they wouldn't bother
him.
On Saturday, 7/17/99, at approximately 10:45 pm in Scarborough Park,
Tiffany was arrested by Tartaglione for trespassing. Tiffany claims that he
came out of the river at approximately 10:30 pm, and was immediately
sprayed by Tartaglione, and then assaulted by Tartaglione, who, at the
time, was alone. Tiffany claims that he laid on the ground and did not
attempt to resist at all. He claims that, after Tartaglione had been
beating him for a while, another Briarcliff officer, Adamitis (sp?) arrived
on the scene and watched Tartaglione continue to beat him (Tiffany) and a
Town of Ossining officer arrived, named Noye. According to Tiffany, this
officer's arrival seemed to startle the two Briarcliff officers, and the
beating stopped. Tiffany was taken to Phelps Memorial Hospital Center in
nearby Sleepy Hollow, where he was found to have suffered a broken skull
bone near his eye, a broken nose, two broken ribs and multiple contusions.
His condition also required many stitches on his face. Tiffany was charged
with trespassing (a violation), resisting arrest (a misdemeanor), and
felony assault of a police officer.
Tiffany said that it is curious that Tartaglione would try to arrest him on
a petty violation in a dark park at night by himself before calling, and
waiting, for backup, given the facts that a.) Tartaglione has testified
under oath on prior occasions that Tiffany has resisted arrest by
Tartaglione, b.) that Tartaglione claimed in Yonkers that he was assaulted
by Tiffany, and that c.) Tartaglione claimed he needed an order of
protection against Tiffany. Tiffany also says the extent of the injuries he
suffered at the hands of Tartaglione give the lie to Tartaglione's claim of
assault by Tiffany.
Tiffany also alleges that his release on Monday from Phelps Memorial
Hospital Center (in Sleepy Hollow, where he was first taken to after the
incident) to the County Jail allegedly came after considerable pressure was
put upon the hospital administration to do so. The source of this pressure
wasn't specified to me. However, Tiffany's doctor, Dr. (Robert?) Raniolo,
told me, at approximately 4:30 pm on Sunday (7/19/99), at a time when
Briarcliff police were trying to get Tiffany out of Phelps and over to the
County Jail, that "under no circumstances do I intend to release him for at
least the next 24 hours, and perhaps more". On Monday morning, Raniolo told
Tiffany, according to Tiffany, that he (Raniolo) was being pressured by the
hospital administration to release him (Tiffany) immediately. Tiffany, as
stated earlier, was released Monday morning. (FYI, phone at Phelps is (914)
366-3000.)
Tiffany's bail hearing was held in the Westchester County Courthouse,
Martin Luther King Blvd, White Plains, NY, in Judge West's court yesterday
morning (7/22/99). Tiffany was released without bail, and the felony
assault charge was dropped.
I suggest you call attorney Gary Ajello, Esq., in Yorktown Heights, NY, who
has spoken with the FBI agent that is handling the case, and who
interviewed Tiffany in the hospital on Sunday afternoon. He has additional
information that you may find of use. His number is (914) 245-7500.
Tiffany can be reached at (914) 941-5124. I can be reached at (914)
945-0815. I have to be in Manhattan today on business, but I will be
checking my machine all day and will return your call promptly.
Thanks for your interest in Clay's, and everyone's, right of free
expression.