An NYPD officer was arrested for allegedly brandishing his gun at a bar in Flushing and pointing it at two waitresses, including at one of their heads, according to multiple reports.
Police have confirmed that Hyun Kim, 25, was charged Saturday with two counts of menacing. An NYPD spokesperson declined to provide any further details of the arrest.
Stories in the NY Post and the Daily News both reported police sources as saying that Kim and Sgt. Jung Kim headed to an unnamed bar Tuesday night. At one point during the evening, Hyun Kim, who was said to have been drinking, was asked by a waitress whether he was a “gangster."
Hyun Kim allegedly responded, “No, I’m a cop and this is my boss," and proceeded to pull out his weapon. Upon racking it, the magazine fell to the ground, sources told the two papers. According to the Post, there is surveillance footage of the magazine and bullets on the ground.
The officer then pointed the gun at the waitress, sources said. A manager later told police that when he came out he saw the officer pointing the firearm at the head of another waitress.
Individuals at the bar reported the incident to the 109th Precinct. According to the Daily News, sources said that Hyun Kim and the sergeant, who work at the 115th Precinct, were both suspended without pay.
The Queens District Attorney's office confirmed to Gothamist that Hyun Kim was issued a desk appearance ticket. He is due in court on October 28.
The exact location of the bar is not clear. The Post reported the bar as being on Crocheron Avenue, while the Daily News identified it as being on Depot Road near Northern Boulevard. The neighborhood, which is also known as Murray Hill, is lined with Korean restaurants, bars and karaoke clubs.
“I want to know why they pointed their gun at the waitress, why was the reason for that?” J.H. Lim, who works at Flower Karaoke, a nearby club, told The Post. “It doesn’t make sense if your life isn’t in danger, why pull out your gun?”
