Mount Vernon Police Sergeant Mario Stewart admitted guilt in federal court for violating a person's constitutional rights during an emergency response, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim for the Southern District of New York. The guilty plea was entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause, where Stewart faced the consequences for deploying excessive force by tasing a restrained individual seven times within a two-minute period.
Stewart, a 46-year-old Brooklyn resident, responded to a call for assistance on March 26, 2019, aimed at helping a person in the midst of a mental health crisis. Instead of providing the intended aid, Stewart utilized his taser to swiftly subdue the handcuffed and leg-restrained victim. Acting U.S. Attorney Kim condemned the abuse of power, saying, "Mario Stewart betrayed his duty as a Sergeant with the Mount Vernon Police Department." Kim further vowed to "fiercely protect constitutional rights and hold accountable those who abuse their authority to violate those rights," according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The indictment detailed that despite the victim being immobilized and on the ground, Sergeant Stewart nonetheless proceeded to inflict pain and cause bodily harm. This act of aggression in the line of duty was brought to light thanks to the investigative efforts led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The charge of deprivation of rights under color of law, to which Stewart has pled guilty, could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, although the final decision resides with the presiding judge. The FBI earned commendations from Mr. Kim for its investigatory work, with additional acknowledgments doled out to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and Mount Vernon Police Department for their collaboration.
Handled by the Office's Civil Rights Unit of the Criminal Division, the prosecution of Sergeant Mario Stewart brings the issue of police accountability to the forefront. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg and Jared Hoffman lead the prosecution, which becomes part of the broader conversation on law enforcement and citizens' rights within the criminal justice system. Stewart's sentencing is awaited as a moment of reckoning for the breach of public trust he once held.
