NYPD must face excessive force allegations in court

NEW YORK, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- A federal judge ruled New York police must face claims in court they used excessive force against two Occupy Wall Street protesters in 2011.

Heather Carpenter and her fiance, Julio Jose Jimenez-Artunduaga, sued New York Police Department Chief Joseph Esposito, Chief of Patrol James Hall and three sergeants for use of excessive force, the Courthouse News Service reported.

The suit alleges one of the sergeants gratuitously grabbed Carpenter's breast and another punched and kicked Jimenez-Artunduaga.

"Although these allegations are disputed, they raise issues of fact which may only be resolved by a jury," U.S. District Judge Denise Cote said.