An NYPD cop charged with falsely arresting a black man and nabbed spewing racial hatred is shopping for a new lawyer. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
@WiL
Officer Michael Daragjati made a brief appearance in Brooklyn Federal Court Wednesday seeking an adjournment of a bail hearing until he hires a new mouthpiece.
Although the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association would provide legal representation for Daragjati on the false arrest case because it was an on-duty incident, the Staten Island cop is also charged with extortion and insurance fraud relating to his off-duty contracting business.
Daragjati, 32, nodded to his father and wife sitting in the front row and mouthed the words “I’m OK.”
In court papers Daragjati is depicted as a racial epithet-spewing goon who was intercepted on his phone boasting about framing the black man: “I fried another n—–,” he told a friend.
PBA lawyer Michael Martinez said the cop is being kept in protective custody and is concerned about his family.
“He’s my son and I love him,” Daragjati’s father, Loro, told reporters outside court, declining further comment.
The Staten Island district attorney’s office is reviewing Dargjati’s prior arrests for irregularties.
“He’s been a good police officer, he’s made a lot of arrests and I guess people may view that in a different light now,” Martinez said.
Daragjati is suspended without pay for 30 days and then will be restored to the payroll even if he remains held without bail.
