Sleepy Hollow Detective Faces Federal Charges for Use of Excessive Force on Handcuffed Citizens

LEV L. DASSIN, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and JOSEPH M. DEMAREST JR., the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today that JOSE QUINOY, a Detective with the Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., Police Department, has been indicted on two counts of violating civil rights through the use of excessive force. QUINOY was arrested today in Sleepy Hollow.

In particular, the Indictment, unsealed today in White Plains federal court, charges QUINOY with assaulting and causing bodily injury to two persons, one on October 17 and one on December 17, 2006, after they had been handcuffed and restrained by a police officer. If found guilty, QUINOY faces a maximum penalty on each count of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gain or loss resulting from the crime.

QUINOY was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge LISA MARGARET SMITH and released on a $100,000 bond to be signed by three responsible persons. He was also ordered to surrender his passport and all firearms.

QUINOY, 36, is a resident of Tarrytown, New York. Assistant United States Attorneys CYNTHIA K. DUNNE and DAVID J. KENNEDY are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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