New revelations unveiled in assault case against Rockville Centre officer

<p>New evidence was released in court today in the case of a Rockville Centre police officer charged with assault. Police Officer Anthony Federico is charged with felony assault for allegedly hitting a Rockville Centre man in the head with a Taser. Kevin Kavanagh suffered a head injury and required stitches. During the court conference today, Federico&rsquo;s attorney said medical records show Kavanagh had a blood alcohol content of 0.20, and had cocaine in his system at the time of t...</p>

News 12 Staff

Apr 19, 2017, 4:48 PM

Updated 2,570 days ago

Share:

New revelations unveiled in assault case against Rockville Centre officer
New revelations have been unveiled in the case of a Rockville Centre police officer charged with assault.
Police Officer Anthony Federico has been indicted and charged with felony assault for allegedly hitting a Rockville Centre man in the head with a Taser.
News 12 has obtained exclusive cellphone video from May 2016 that shows a confrontation between Federico and two Rockville Centre brothers, Kevin and Brendan Kavanagh.
Both brothers say they were injured. Kevin Kavanagh required staples in his head after prosecutors say Officer Federico smashed him in the head with the Taser.
On Wednesday, the attorney for Officer Federico revealed that blood taken from Kavanagh that night at the hospital shows he had cocaine in his system and a blood alcohol level of 0.20 -- more than double the legal limit.
"This is very important because it helps to explain what clearly was very violent and aggressive behavior, which helps to explain and justify the officer's reasonable belief that it was necessary to use the force that he did," says attorney William Petrillo.
Petrillo also says the video needs to be watched closely. He says what should be noted first is that Kevin Kavanagh allegedly put his arm around Officer Federico's neck, in what he calls a headlock. He also says it shows Brendan Kavanagh kicking Federico in the backside and then reaching toward his gun belt.
The cellphone video does not contain audio, but Petrillo says if you could hear it, it included a crowd of 20 people yelling and screaming at the officer, making him further feel his life was in danger.
Officer Federico remains on active duty on the force in Rockville Centre.
If convicted, he faces up to seven years behind bars.


More from News 12
2:45
Large fire at 2-story Bensonhurst building leaves home destroyed

Large fire at 2-story Bensonhurst building leaves home destroyed

4:14
'We lost something good'. FDNY says large fire destroys Bushwick supermarket, leaves 55 people homeless

'We lost something good'. FDNY says large fire destroys Bushwick supermarket, leaves 55 people homeless

1:48
Temperatures cool off heading into the weekend for NYC

Temperatures cool off heading into the weekend for NYC

1:55
PS 331 in Borough Park to be renamed in honor of slain Detective WenJian Liu

PS 331 in Borough Park to be renamed in honor of slain Detective WenJian Liu

2:45
Large fire at 2-story Bensonhurst building leaves home destroyed

Large fire at 2-story Bensonhurst building leaves home destroyed

0:43
2 City Council committees hold joint hearing on sexual harassment policies

2 City Council committees hold joint hearing on sexual harassment policies

Diocese of Brooklyn: 3 Catholic academies to close at the end of the school year

Diocese of Brooklyn: 3 Catholic academies to close at the end of the school year

2:03
New exhibit at Brooklyn Museum unveils new photos taken by Beatles' Paul McCartney

New exhibit at Brooklyn Museum unveils new photos taken by Beatles' Paul McCartney

0:32
NYPD: Suspect driver wanted for assaulting 59-year-old man in Williamsburg

NYPD: Suspect driver wanted for assaulting 59-year-old man in Williamsburg

0:23
Police: 2-car Prospect-Lefferts Gardens crash leaves person hospitalized

Police: 2-car Prospect-Lefferts Gardens crash leaves person hospitalized

0:36
Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

2:22
Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

1:27
Kingsboro Psychiatric Center workers demand their bosses get fired due to bullying, nepotism

Kingsboro Psychiatric Center workers demand their bosses get fired due to bullying, nepotism

1:53
Crowds gather again at Stony Brook University following night of 29 arrests during pro-Palestinian protest

Crowds gather again at Stony Brook University following night of 29 arrests during pro-Palestinian protest

1:51
RFK announces he has enough signatures to appear on NY ballot

RFK announces he has enough signatures to appear on NY ballot

1:46
Tenants weigh in on possible rent hikes for rent-stabilized homes

Tenants weigh in on possible rent hikes for rent-stabilized homes

1:38
Parks Department held community input meetings over new construction of skate parks

Parks Department held community input meetings over new construction of skate parks

1:27
Power restored in Manhattan Beach following 18-wheeler truck crash

Power restored in Manhattan Beach following 18-wheeler truck crash

1:53
Elected officials call on mayor to bring Staten Island ferry back to former Bay Ridge Pier

Elected officials call on mayor to bring Staten Island ferry back to former Bay Ridge Pier

0:31
Authorities arrest 31-year-old man in connection to fatal Williamsburg crash

Authorities arrest 31-year-old man in connection to fatal Williamsburg crash