[Editor’s Note > Since this article was published the morning of Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, Darrell Davis of the Committee for Justice in support of Damar Fields announced via a Facebook video that “prominent civil rights attorney Mike Sussman has agreed to take on the case.”]
Damar Fields, the homeless man with emotional problems whose arrest at the Peekskill Riverfront on Dec. 3 went viral after he was seen being tased and kicked, pleaded not guilty to four charges on Thursday, Jan. 8.
Fields was arraigned at the Peekskill City Court before Judge Sophia Trott on charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance, public lewdness, resisting arrest, and obstructing governmental administration.
The 42-year-old man was surrounded in support by rallygoers on his entry to the courthouse and accompanied by his mother, Barbara Simpson, who came up from Charlotte, North Carolina, for the proceeding.
Both Fields’ mother and Darrell Davis, a community advocate who circulated a cell phone video of Fields’ arrest taken by a bystander, described the charges as “bogus,” with Davis claiming the charges were tacked on in retaliation of Fields’ arrest going viral.
“This is a mental health issue, and the police did not treat it like that. Neither did the district attorney,” Davis said ahead of the arraignment. “This man should not be here for this. We’re going to keep pushing for justice for Damar.”
A misdemeanor complaint alleged that on Dec. 3, Fields intentionally exposed his genitalia in a lewd manner in a public park where children and adults are known to be present. In addition, he allegedly possessed a glass pipe containing a residue consistent with burnt crack/cocaine.
Police also accused Fields of intentionally and physically resisting arrest, attempting to reach toward the officer’s gun belt, attempting to punch at officers, tensing his arm muscles in a fixed position, and refusing to comply with multiple lawful orders to comply.
Following community outrage from the video of the arrest, the next day the primary officer involved in the arrest was placed on paid administrative leave while the matter was under review. The officer was later identified by the police chief as Daniel Regg, employed by the department since 2023.
The incident was also referred to the Westchester District Attorney’s office, which later announced it was declining to pursue criminal charges for any officers involved after determining there was an insufficient basis for such charges.
In addition, the district attorney’s office released body camera footage collected as part of its review, including one segment showing a pantless and erratic Fields telling Officer Regg, “I’ll kill you, you’re dead,” before getting tased, and another showing Regg and a second officer, Angelo Cintron, punching a bloody Fields in the face while yelling at him to get on his stomach.
An internal investigation into the incident from the Peekskill police department remains in progress, Chief of Police Adam Renwick told the Peekskill Herald in a phone call.
Over 20 activists stood outside in support of Fields, as well as sitting inside for the arraignment, including Priscilla Augustin, president of the Peekskill chapter of the NAACP, who told the Peekskill Herald Fields’ arrest should have been done differently.
“They should have waited for Mobile Crisis to come support,” Augustin said. “[His behavior] should have been a trigger for the police that something emotionally and mentally was going on. I’m not saying it’s okay for anyone to be out in the community with the pants down, but it’s not okay for the force that was endured on him.”
Resident Jan Melillo told the Herald she believed the system was failing people like Fields by not providing proper healthcare, effective addiction treatment, or economic support, resulting in them being punished for where they end up.
“The entire system needs to be looked at,” Melillo said. “Any system that says it’s okay to denigrate, curse at, [repeatedly] tase people, kick them in the process of arresting someone with a mental health problem, is broken.”
Fields’ case was adjourned for further proceedings on Feb. 26. He is represented by attorney Glen Malia.
Davis, who led the creation of a support committee for Fields, said they are in the process of getting discovery for Fields, including any existing videos from police, 911 calls, police records, and charges.
“The main concern, obviously, is Damar’s well-being,” Davis told the Herald.
“He’s getting stronger every day. Obviously, the trauma is tremendous, so right now that’s our main concern. He’s in the hands of a good attorney, Glen Malia, right now. We’re exploring other attorneys for either continuous representation or other legal actions.”
Westchester District Attorney Susan Cacace’s decision not to pursue criminal charges on officers involved in the riverfront arrest was criticized by Davis in a letter written to the New York State Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct on Dec. 28.
“The district attorney ended her ‘investigation’ into the police conduct with absolutely no charges against the officers who, even she wrote in her findings, did not practice routine police procedure and needed more training,” Davis wrote. “The only person charged in this is the victim of a brutal beating. A man was tased several times and is lucky to be alive. Clearly, Ms. Cacace did not set out to find justice. But instead, to justify the officer’s reckless and hateful behavior.”
