Man Alleges Long Island Cop Kept Him From Seeing Dying Mom

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island man claims a Nassau County police officer beat and restrained him over a parking dispute that prevented him from seeing his dying mother one last time.

Sixty-year-old Gary Leifer, of Merrick, said the confrontation began early Saturday when the unidentified officer told him to move the car he had just parked near the ambulance that brought his 84-year-old mother to Nassau University Medical Center.

When he refused, Leifer said the officer body-slammed him and was held down for more than 20 minutes, ignoring his pleas to go see his mother.

"Him and his partner grabbed me and slammed me into the concrete," Leifer said. "This 300-something pound guy put his knee on the side of my head and his other knee on my rib cage."

By the time he was released, Leifer said his mother had already died.

"He's a bully, he's a thug," said Leifer.

Detective Lt. Richard LeBrun confirmed Tuesday that Internal Affairs is investigating Leifer's complaint.

The department said it cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.

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