{"active":false,"first_name":"Melissa","last_name":"Lee","race":"Asian","gender":"Female","rank":"LT","command":{"command":"044 PCT","id":"44pct"},"ended_date":"2020-01-02","taxid":"921491","complaint_ids":[201707404,201208250,200515469],"command_history":[{"command":"043 PCT","id":"43pct"},{"command":"PSA 4","id":"PSA4"}],"appt_date":"1998-07-01","lawsuits":[{"name":"Dejesus, Jose Manuel vs City of New York, Et. al.","start_date":"2018-04-17","disposition_date":"2021-03-11","payout_amount":20000,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"024292/2018E","court":"Supreme Court - Bronx","officer_name":"Lee, Melissa Y.","summary":"On January 14, 2017, at approximately 9:30 p.m., plaintiff was lawfully walking on the street during a break from work as a freelance automotive mechanic. Plaintiff was approached by defendant-NYPD Officer Francis Flynn and Lieutenant Paul Gaglio. Without probable cause or reasonable suspicion, defendants Flynn and Gaglio ordered plaintiff produce his identification. Plaintiff complied. Defendants Flynn and Gaglio refused plaintiff's inquiry regarding the reason for the stop, ordered him to spread his arms and legs, and proceeded to perform a frisk and search. Defendants Gaglio and Flynn did not recovery any drugs, weapons, or contrabands. However, defendants Gaglio and Flynn recovered $1616 in cash from plaintiff's pocket. Subsequently, Flynn and Gaglio placed the plaintiff under arrest, including placing excessively tight handcuffs on the plaintiff.\n\nDefendants Flynn and Gaglio placed the plaintiff in the back of an NYPD van and drove around for approximately one hour before brining the plaintiff to the 44th Precinct. After placing the plaintiff in a line-up, Flynn and Gaglio brought plaintiff back inside the NYPD van and continued to drive around for four (4) additional hours. During this time, plaintiff repeatedly requested that Flynn and Gaglio loosen the excessively tight handcuffs. After a total of five (5) hours in the back of the NYPD van, plaintiff was processed and his driver's license was seized. Defendants Flynn and Gaglio fabricated allegations. Defendant Lieutenant Melissa Lee approved these false allegations. Defendants Flynn and Gaglio were motivated by a desire to obtain over-time when they stopped, arrested, and prolonged their custody and control over the plaintiff. On July 15, 2017 at 10:00 p.m., plaintiff was released from custody -- approximately 24.5 hours since plaintiff's arrest by defendants-Flynn and Gaglio. The Bronx District Attorney's Office declined to pursue charges against the plaintiff, due to insufficient reasonable or probable cause to support prosecution. Defendants withheld plaintiff's $1616 until January 28, 2017 without justification or probable cause. Defendants have refused to return plaintiff's driver's license.","documents":[{"url":"https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=iRTuOisLKUIvUCbh0t9Rmw==","type":"complaint"}]}],"documents":[{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24441170-bronx-notified-officers-list-edited_redacted-redacted_redacted","type":"credibility-finding"}],"image":"https://www.50-a.org/images/officer/7XLK-melissa-lee.jpg","id":"7XLK","url":"https://www.50-a.org/officer/7XLK"}