Three teenage boys are speaking out following their encounter with a retired NYPD police officer who chased them in New York City for several minutes, allegedly with his gun drawn.
On Nov. 24, 2021, three boys named Kawun, Kyi-el and Brendan — who were between the ages of 12 and 14 — were playing with a basketball on Saratoga Avenue as they walked past a real estate business in Brooklyn. One of the boys hit a surveillance camera for the business with the basketball before running away down Pacific Street.
Retired NYPD officer Kruythoff Forrester’s family owns the business and chased the boys for several blocks and allegedly drew his gun on them. A video of part of the chase shows one of the teens yelling, “He’s got a gun, B.J.!”
According to the teens, they heard one or more gunshots but did not see Forrester fire his weapon. One of the boys ran home and dialed 911 while the other two ran in the opposite direction.
Forrester is heard admitting that he told the teens, “You come back, you come back, I’ll shoot you,” but claimed he never removed or drew his gun.
Forrester was arrested and taken to jail at the 73rd Precinct. However, he was released after spending just 38 minutes in his jail cell once NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey came to the precinct. Forrester is heard asking for Maddrey on video from the precinct twice before another officer reminded him that the cameras were recording. Maddrey was the NYPD chief of community affairs at the time of Forrester’s arrest.
“The cameras are on. Recording. All right?”
“Oh, sorry. Sorry. OK,” replied Forrester. He is later given a cellphone while in his cell.
Kyi-el, now 15, his little brother, 13-year-old Brendan, and their 15-year-old cousin, Kawun, appeared shy when they spoke with Ebro Darden from HOT 97 radio on April 6 about being chased by Forrester.
“It was the worst time of my life,” said Kyi-el. “I thought I wouldn’t make it home to my…
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