By Timothy Clifford

Newsday, October 30, 1988

A  police officer pleaded innocent Friday to a charge that he beata handcuffed bicycle messenger in a holding cell at Manhattan's MidtownNorth Precinct last spring.

Joseph O'Hagan, 23, a member of the force for three years, faces onecount of second-degree assault, carrying a maximum prison sentence of 7years. He has been suspended without pay.

On April 8, bicycle messenger Ronald Johnson, 21, was arrested afterallegedly running a red light at a midtown intersection while deliveringpackages. After allegedly scuffling with the officers who arrested him,Johnson was handcuffed and placed in a holding pen at the Midtown NorthPrecinct.

Once there, Johnson and O'Hagan, who was preparing to go on duty, exchanged"profane and derogatory" remarks, according to Manhattan District AttorneyRobert M. Morgenthau.

"O'Hagan had to go get the keys to get into the cell," Morgenthau said."He had to go out of his way to administer the alleged beating."

Prosecutors charge O'Hagan punched and kicked Johnson and then shovedJohnson's head into the cell bars. Johnson, who suffered cuts and bruises,received stitches and other treatment at Bellevue Hospital and was released.

Johnson, who lives in Queens, later pleaded guilty to disorderly conductstemming from his earlier scuffle with police and was released on a conditionaldischarge. He filed a complaint with the Police Department's Civilian ComplaintReview Board. The complaint was then forwarded to Morgenthau's office.

At O'Hagan's arraignment Friday, acting Manhattan State Supreme CourtJustice Brenda Soloff released O'Hagan on his own recognizance and orderedhim to return to court on Nov. 2.