A New York cop, who was working a detail as security at Madison Square Garden, claims he has permanent spinal injuries. The off-duty cop claims the injuries resulted from a scuffle with a musician.
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He allegedly got in a fight with Lil Tjay at the venue. NYPD officer John Przybyszewski had been working security at the venue for a boxing match. That's when he was involved in a brawl with the rapper, whose real name is Tione Jayden Merritt, and his entourage.
Now, the police officer is suing. He says he suffers "daily neck and back pain."
"This didn't just hurt my body, it changed how I live," Przybyszewski told the New York Post. According to the officer, the rapper was "volatile and combative." The incident happened last February. Officials reportedly instructed Przybyszewski to remove the musician.
Cop Sues Musician
The cop asked Merritt to leave. In response, he says the rapper and his entourage knocked him to the ground before several people fell on top of him. The venue has since reportedly banned the rapper. Meanwhile, the off-duty cop suffered serious cervical spinal injuries.
"I love being a police officer, but this injury stole the certainty of my future," said Przybyszewsk. "I may never know how far my career could have gone or what my full potential truly was."
He's now suing both the rapper and also MSG, accusing the venue of severe understaffing that led to his injury. MSG "knowingly chose to understaff a crowded professional boxing event." The off-duty officer argued that the lack of security left the entire event "chaotic and completely uncontrolled."
John Scola, Przybyszewski's attorney, said his client is "a hardworking officer who took a second job to earn extra money."
"The defendants' reckless conduct didn't just injure him," Scola said, "it jeopardized his career and permanently altered his life."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for MSG said, "We were just made aware of this complaint and are looking into the matter." MSG later added that there were at least 100 security personnel staffed at the theater that evening.
