Putnam Law Enforcement Brutality Allegations Captured in Video
Through a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request to the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office, Examiner Media obtained Carmel Town Hall surveillance videotape of a case of alleged police brutality that took place on July 3 of last year. Stemming from that incident, former county sheriff investigator Pat Castaldo has been charged with one felony and two misdemeanors. In the video, the suspect who the alleged brutality was against, Kenneth Defreitas (who was there being arraigned on burglary charges) went for former sheriff investigator Gerald Schramek’s (in the white shirt) holster and weapon. From there, a struggle ensued and Castaldo (in the dark vest) also rushed to assist Schramek in subduing Defreitas. The county legislature viewed the videotape and approved a settlement payment of $35,000 to Defreitas who was set to sue the county for civil rights violations.
