A 23-year-old NYPD cadet was arrested after allegedly punching a man accused of slapping his mother's buttocks inside a family home in Queens. The confrontation led to cross-arrests, with both men now facing separate charges and pending arraignments.
According to PIX11, cadet Thupten Tenzin allegedly punched 34-year-old Dinesh Thapa after Thapa allegedly slapped the buttocks of Tenzin's 50-year-old mother, according to sources cited by the outlet. Police said Thapa was arrested and charged with forcible touching on Sunday, while Tenzin was arrested Monday and charged with assault. The relationship between the two men has not been made public, per the same report.
Arraignments for both men were pending Tuesday. The station's report does not specify what conditions, if any, a judge might impose at that hearing, and it remains unclear how the case will ultimately be resolved in court.
What The Charges Actually Mean
The article cites New York State Senate statutory records in connection with forcible touching but does not specify the charge's statutory definition, classification, or penalties. It identifies Tenzin's charge as assault but does not specify a degree, statute, or penalty; the article also cites Saland Law in connection with assault.
A key legal question in the case is whether Tenzin's alleged punch qualifies as justified defense of a third person under New York's Article 35 framework. Under Penal Law Section 35.15, a person may use physical force upon another when they reasonably believe it necessary to defend themselves or a third person from imminent unlawful physical force, per Finn Law Offices. Legal commentary and case law addressing Article 35 discuss defense of a third person generally, according to analysis from the Sanders Firm. Whether Tenzin's response was a proportional reaction to protect his mother, or exceeded what the law allows, will likely be evaluated by prosecutors and defense counsel as the case proceeds.
A Cadet, Not Yet A Sworn Officer
Tenzin's arrest draws attention in part because of his role in the NYPD Cadet Corps, a paid internship program for full-time college students living in New York City. The program pays an hourly wage of $16.79 and offers up to $20,000 in tuition assistance, according to NYC.gov. The NYPD page describes enrollment, training, summer employment, and benefits. The available sources identify Tenzin as a cadet but do not specify whether he was a sworn officer.
Even so, his arrest could carry consequences beyond the criminal case. The available materials do not specify whether Tenzin's arrest will lead to suspension, termination, or other administrative action separate from the criminal case.
Not The First Cadet Case This Year
This isn't the first time an NYPD cadet has faced criminal charges this year. In March, Brooklyn prosecutors indicted 24-year-old cadet Ahmed Elnahtawy on third-degree rape and forcible touching charges following a separate arrest in Queens in December 2025 that led to his suspension from the Police Academy, as Hoodline previously reported. That case, along with a string of other Queens-area forcible touching arrests Hoodline has covered this year, forms part of the outlet's coverage of non-consensual contact allegations. The available report does not describe the Queens County District Attorney's Office's units or enforcement priorities in these cases.
Separately from the criminal case, the available sources do not specify whether Tenzin's mother may pursue a separate legal remedy. The article links to the New York State Unified Court System, but it remains to be seen whether any petition will be filed as the criminal cases against both men move through Queens Criminal Court.
