Brooklyn City Council Member Chi Ossé was arrested by police on Wednesday while trying to stop the eviction of his constituent, Carmella Charrington, from her Bedford-Stuyvesant home amid allegations of deed theft.
The video posted on X shows police officers wrestling Ossé down to the ground to throw handcuffs on the council member as a crowd gathered outside of the Charrington home on Jefferson Avenue to prevent the eviction of the Charrington family. Residents and anti-deed theft advocates were rallying in front of the home after Charrington was jailed the past week in contempt of court, as she fights an alleged deed theft court battle.
"Black displacement is happening right now in Bed-Stuy and Carmella is one of many Black homeowners battling deed theft in Brooklyn," Ossé said in a statement on X. "For months, our office has pushed for an eviction moratorium for homeowners facing deed theft. These protections are the bare minimum, and families cannot wait any longer. Not another Black homeowner should have their home stolen. Until deed theft ends, we will fight every single day."
Charrington has been representing herself in court to fight developer 227 Group LLC, which claims it now owns the brownstone that her family has owned for more than 60 years, according to previous social media posts by Ossé.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had not seen the arrest video as of Wednesday morning.
"I know he's been on the front lines of fighting deed theft," he said at an unrelated press conference when asked about the arrest. "It's especially prevalent in his council district. And I appreciate, frankly, the efforts that he's led in the past on ensuring that this is front of mind for all of us."
The council member is currently being held at the 79th Precinct.
