State Attorney General Investigating Downtown Binghamton Arrest

The office of New York State Attorney General Letitia James is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Hamail Waddell by Binghamton police.

Waddell was injured when police officers took him into custody around 3:20 a.m. New Year's Day. The incident happened near the intersection of State and Hawley streets, just steps from city police headquarters.

Cellphone video shot by people at the scene shows a Binghamton police officer with a knee on Waddell's neck.

Mayor Jared Kraham on Friday morning released a statement indicating city police officials have been in contact with the state attorney general's office regarding the incident.

According to Kraham, the office has requested records related to Waddell's arrest and a complaint he filed on January 2.

The mayor said he hopes the review by the attorney general's office "will result in additional bystander video footage of the arrest being made available to assist in determining the facts."

Kraham's also wrote: "“We are committed to following the facts — as the internal investigation remains open — and to protecting the integrity of the fact-finding process while addressing the Office of Attorney General’s request.”

The focus of the investigation will be on the actions of a Binghamton police officer who has been with the department for 19 years. He was placed on desk duty while the incident is being reviewed.

Dara Silberstein, Waddell's attorney, on Friday declined to comment on her client's case. But in an email, she welcomed the attorney general's office "involvement in looking into what appears to be egregious actions of the BPD." She wrote that there is enough evidence in the public domain "that shows the officer kneeling on Mr. Waddell's neck and other officers failing to intervene. If true, then we hope that appropriate actions will be taken against the offending officers."

The attorney general's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its investigation.

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

LOOK: What major laws were passed the year you were born?

Data for this list was acquired from trusted online sources and news outlets. Read on to discover what major law was passed the year you were born and learn its name, the vote count (where relevant), and its impact and significance.

LOOK: See the iconic cars that debuted the year you were born

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

Source: State Attorney General Investigating Downtown Binghamton Arrest