Michelle Anglin and Kollen Robinson, the two police officers accused of assaulting a Bronx motorist in a traffic dispute in Williamsbridge, were back at the Bronx County Supreme Court this morning to learn the start date for their trial, but the decision was postponed until June 3.
On the afternoon of Aug. 15, 2008, the two off-duty officers became involved in a confrontation with Marlon Smith near the intersection of East 218th Street and White Plains Road. According to press reports, Robinson was driving her black Chevy Suburban SUV along White Plains Road when she was impeded by the open driver-side door of Smith’s parked vehicle.
Obscenities were exchanged between the officers and Smith, but the incident quickly escalated when, according to witnesses, Anglin got out from the passenger’s side and allegedly sprayed Smith with mace. Smith tried to leave his car to grab Anglin, but was thwarted when Robinson intervened and punched him. The New York Sun reported at the time that, according to the New York Police Department Internal Affairs Bureau’s criminal complaint, the officers then “repeatedly struck him about the head and body with closed fists.”
The bureau report stated that Anglin hit Smith with her gun, and one of the officers placed a gun at his head. Smith required 25 staples to close three lacerations suffered during the incident. The officers were arrested the following day after Smith provided the license plate number of Robinson’s SUV.
Sharifa Milena Nasser, the officers’ lawyer, said she expected the trial to commence in midsummer.
Upon leaving the courtroom, Anglin said she was not allowed to comment on the case.