BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — A uniformed FDNY inspector caught on security video pummeling a bodega employee repeatedly threatened to "f--king kill" the worker, according to a recording of a 911 call the inspector made.
Fire Prevention Inspector Eric Monk entered the bodega where Ali Alkaifi worked at 292 Nostrand Ave. in Brooklyn around 9 a.m. in July 2013 to inspect its fire safety system, according to a lawsuit about the incident filed against the city and against NYPD and FDNY employees.
Alkaifi let Monk behind the counter, but later asked the inspector to move, according to the clerk's lawyer Micah Kwasnik. The city employee then yelled at the bodega employee to show identification and called 911, Kwasnik said.
(Warning: graphic language)
Monk told the worker, "I want to see you move me" at the beginning of the call, which Kwasnik describes as a clear threat and provocation, and soon becomes very angry with Alkaifi, repeatedly saying "I will f--king kill you."
"This guy just assaulted me," he then tells the 911 operator.
"He came at me, and I defended myself," Monk continues, adding that he is not hurt or injured.
Video of the incident shows Monk punching Alkaifi several times and lifting him off of the ground.
Alkaifi suffered a skull fracture, contusions to his left eye and abrasions to his face from the attack, according to the lawsuit.
Kwasnik said the 911 recording proves what he has claimed all along about Monk instigating the fight.
"When my client, after [Monk] was behind the counter for an unreasonable amount of time, asked if he could please step aside so other people could do their jobs, this inspector got angry, screamed, imposed his will and was the aggressor," he said.
Monk is being represented by attorney Special Hagan, who declined to comment on the 911 call.
The Law Department declined to comment on the lawsuit while it was still pending, and the NYPD referred comment to the FDNY.
The FDNY did not respond to a request for comment.
Kwasnik said the 911 call makes it very clear that Monk is a violent person.
"You have an employee with dangerous tendencies," he said. "What else do you need to know?"
