{"active":true,"first_name":"Miguel","last_name":"Vanbrakle","race":"Hispanic","gender":"Male","rank":"PO","command":{"command":"MELD","assignment_date":"2026-02-19","id":"MELD"},"shield_no":28743,"taxid":"955616","complaint_ids":[202502057,202304190,202300287,202203400,202200498,202003805,201909568,201807286,201802626,201800760,201709873,201707238,201706223,201705148,201707351,201700442,201610146,201502958],"command_history":[{"command":"QNS CT","id":"176"},{"command":"PBBS","id":"PBBS"},{"command":"067 PCT","id":"67pct"},{"command":"105 PCT","id":"105pct"},{"command":"INT CIS","id":"10"}],"appt_date":"2013-07-09","lawsuits":[{"name":"Williams, Diamond vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2026-03-06","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"800708/2026","court":"Supreme Court - Queens"},{"name":"Brown, Shiloh vs City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2025-08-12","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"25CV04253","court":"U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY","url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70976141/brown-v-the-city-of-new-york/"},{"name":"Jimenez, Rosemary et Al vs The City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2024-08-13","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"24CV05356","court":"U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY","summary":"On September 22, 2023, Plaintiffs Rosemary Jimenez and Sayany Lizardo were asleep in their home when NYPD police officers broke down their front door executing a search warrant. Plaintiff's allege that the police never had an adequate basis for a search warrant, that no contraband was found in the home. However, Plaintiff's further allege that they were arrested anyway after facts were misrepresented to a judge in order to obtain the search warrant by Detective Devin Baker (Shield Number 1595). Specifically, Plaintiffs allege civil rights violations, false arrest, malicious prosecution, defamation, negligent hiring/training/supervision/retention, and IIED.","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nyed.518637/gov.uscourts.nyed.518637.1.0.pdf","type":"complaint"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68999831/jimenez-v-the-city-of-new-york/"},{"name":"Ero, Ronnie vs City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2024-07-29","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"715425/2024","court":"Supreme Court - Queens","summary":"On November 18, 2022, at 223-24 106th Ave, Queens, NY, Plaintiff was targeted by Defendants. Prior to November 18, 2022, Plaintiff leased a storage unit to another individual. When the individual did not pay rent, Plaintiff placed the unit and items inside up for auction. When the unit was purchased at auction, contraband was discovered therein and turned over to police. Plaintiff provided the name, contact information, rental records for the unit evidencing the unit and its contents were placed by the person who rented it, but Defendants ignored it. Defendants grabbed Plaintiff’s hands and pulled him outside his residence. Defendants grabbed Plaintiff about his body and extremities, contorting his arms behind his back and applied metal handcuffs in a tight fashion. Defendants searched Plaintiff’s person by rifling through his clothing and personal belongings, patting him down all over. Plaintiff requested Defendants loosen the handcuffs, but Defendants ignored him. Defendants removed Plaintiff to the 105th Precinct. Plaintiff was transported to the Queens Central Booking until arraignment. Defendants signed a criminal complaint against Plaintiff, and affirmed truth of fabricated allegations against him. After arraignment, Plaintiff was remanded to Rikers Island for more than a month, and strip-searched with cavity inspections. On April 24, 2023, Plaintiff’s charges were dismissed and sealed, a termination in favor of the accused.","documents":[{"url":"https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=0eIVWsAccWUfYSsHuL4Qgg==","type":"complaint"}]},{"name":"Pickney, Sonia, et al. vs The City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2024-04-04","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"707025/2024","court":"Supreme Court - Queens","summary":"On November 4, 2022, at approximately 6:00 AM, plaintiffs were lawfully\npresent in the vicinity of 89-47 220th Street (borough of Queens) when the police officers Nicholas Bekas, Miguel VanBrankle, and unidentified (John Doe) police officers 1-10 unlawfully arrested the plaintiffs. More specifically, plaintiffs were asleep when approximately 15 officers in SWAT gear, while pointing guns, were breaking down their door. Plaintiffs were unlawfully searched and placed in excessively tight handcuffs.\n\nPlaintiffs remained cuffed in their own living room for about 1 hour, while the police officers searched their home, causing severe property damage, including\nto broken doors, broken furniture, broken glassware, and a busted water pipe that flooded the home. The officers also broke into one of the plaintiff's safe and confiscated approximately $1,000. \n\nPlaintiffs were eventually transferred to the 105th precinct, where one of the plaintiffs was questioned about a gun that was found in his house, which he explained to be a paintball gun. After 36 hours in unlawful custody, the plaintiffs were charged with crimes they did not commit. Months later, all charges against the plaintiffs were dismissed and the case was terminated in their favor.","documents":[{"url":"https://web.archive.org/web/20240825132613/https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=xFRSgy5v/j71BecfRP/pzw==","type":"complaint"}]},{"name":"Durden, Shaqueena, et Al vs City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2021-06-22","disposition_date":"2023-06-27","payout_amount":40000,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"21CV01539","court":"U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY","summary":"On or about March 24, 2018 at approximately 1 a.m. Plaintiffs were lawfully at 243 East 51st Street New York when Defendant Officers chased and assaulted, and falsely arrested plaintiffs without probable cause or reason to use force. Plaintiffs were injured in the arrest, brought to the police precinct and denied medical assistance. Defendants were then brought to Central Booking and arraigned on false charges. The charges were eventually dismissed and sealed.","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nyed.461581/gov.uscourts.nyed.461581.1.0.pdf","type":"complaint"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59758086/durden-v-the-city-of-new-york/"},{"name":"Demas, Michael, et al. vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2019-07-03","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"514362/2019","court":"Supreme Court - Kings","officer_name":"Van Brakle, Miguel","summary":"On or about August 31, 2018, and extending into the early morning of September 1, 2018, members of the NYPD, led by Sergeant Alan Chau, arrived at a Pan Yard event held by the Heart of Steel Band in Brooklyn, New York. The plaintiffs, including Michael Demas, Catherine Nunes, Gwynn Glasgow, and others, were present at this event, which was organized as part of the J'Ouvert celebrations. Despite the event being a free community gathering with no profit or sale of alcohol, Sergeant Chau instructed officers, including Officers Fernandez and Vanbrakle, to arrest all plaintiffs, accusing them of operating an unlicensed bottle club under ABC law 64-b.\n\nDuring the arrests, Officer Fernandez and others used excessive force on Catherine Nunes, a 71-year-old woman with a pre-existing wrist injury, by handcuffing her tightly, leading to injuries that may require surgery. Michael Demas, leader of the band, was wrongfully charged with Obstruction of Governmental Administration. The plaintiffs were held for approximately 24 hours, and the charges against them were later dismissed and sealed.","documents":[{"url":"https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=Y7jRRQMuSTuEdAOclvNv2Q==","type":"complaint"}]},{"name":"Morris, Kenyatta, et al. vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2019-02-25","disposition_date":"2025-06-04","payout_amount":175000,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"503844/2019","court":"Supreme Court - Kings","officer_name":"Van Brakle, Miguel","summary":"On or about Friday March 24, 2018 at approximately 1:00 a.m. Plaintiff, KENYATTA MORRIS was inside the basement of the premises 243 East 513t\nStreet in Brooklyn when Sargent ALAN CHAU placed both of his hands\non plaintiff and grabbed her by the shirt, arm and hair, violently swung her around pulling and dragging her while she was holding the glass in her hand. Plaintiff was   was placed in handcuffs and arrested by NYPD officers including Sargent ALAN CHAU police officer MIGUEL VANBRANKLE and held in front of 243 East 51st\nStreet New York for approximately thirty (30) minutes, before she was placed in a NYPD van and driven to the 673 precinct where she photographed, fingerprinted, placed in a holding cell until approximately 11:00 PM, when she taken to central booking where she appeared before a Criminal Court Judge and charged with: PL 195.05 OBSTRUCTION OF GOVERNMENTAL ADMINISTRATION 2, PL 205.30 RESISTING ARREST, PL 265.01 (2) CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A WEAPON 4.\nPlaintiff was required to appear in the Criminal Court Kings County on the following dates: March 25/26, 2018 arraignment, April 26, 2018, June 12, 2018, July 30, 2018, August 24, 2018, September 26, 2018, October 24, 2018 and on  November 1, 2018 when Plaintiff accepted a disorderly conduct with an immediate dismissal of all charges against KENYATTA MORRIS were dismissed and the record sealed.  Plaintiff Morris suffered serious physical injuries, including injuries to her wrists due to handcuffs which were closed too tight, stress upon her physical system, psychological/emotional injury and anxiety, \nAdditionally, Plaintiff Kurt Chang was inside the basement when a fight broke out not involving him.  The officers of the NYPD yelled to put the lights on. KURT CHANG followed the direction of the officers and was about to put the lights on when he was grabbed by three or four NYPD officers, wrestled to the ground, handcuffed and arrested and placed in a NYPD van and driven to the 673 precinct where she photographed, fingerprinted, placed in a holding cell until approximately 11:00 PM, when he taken to central booking where he appeared before a Criminal Court Judge and charged with: PL 195.05 OBSTRUCTING GOVERNMENTAL ADMINISTRATION 2, AC 20-453 UNLICENSED GENERAL VENDOR, ABC 100-(1) SALE OF ALCOHOL WITHOUT A LICENSE, ABC 114 (6), EAILURE TO DISPLAY NEW YORK STATE LIQUOR LICENSE, ABC 64(B) UNLICENSED BOTTLE CLUB, ABC 96(1) STORING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES and released without bail. KURT CHANG was required to appear in the Criminal Court Kings County on the following dates: March 25/26, 2018 arraignment and June 12, 2018 when the case was dismissed and the record sealed.\nOn March 24th Plaintiff, OWEN DWYER, was standing outside the above premises when Defendants interrogated and searched him, placed their hands on him, handcuffed and arrested him and drove to the 673 precinct where he was photographed, fingerprinted, placed in a holding cell until approximately 11:00 PM, when he taken to central booking where he appeared before a Criminal Court Judge and charged with: PL 195.05 OBSTRUCTION OF GOVERNMENTAL ADMINISTRATION 2, AC 20-453 UNLICENSED GENERAL VENDOR, ABC 110(1) UNLICENSED GENERAL VENDOR, ABC 114(6) SALE OF ALCOHOL WITHOUT A LICENSE, ABC 64 (B) UNLICENSED BOTTLE CLUB, ABC 96 (1) STORING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, PL 265.01 (2) CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A WEAPON 4.OWEN DWYER was required to appear in the Criminal Court Kings County on the following dates in AP6: March 25/26, 2018 arraignment, April 26, 2018, June 12, 2018, July 30, 2018, August 24, 2018 and on September 26, 2018 the charges against OWEN DWYER were dismissed and the record sealed.","documents":[{"url":"https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=FrdhPisbo/c/H/OtfpRogQ==","type":"complaint"}]},{"name":"Phillips, Maurice vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2018-12-21","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"524742/2018","court":"Supreme Court - Kings","officer_name":"Vanbrakle, Miguel","summary":"On March 24, 2018, Plaintiff was at a party when Defendants began to arrest party goers. Plaintiff was assaulted, battered, and victimized by Defendants who engaged in excessive force by punching him in his face, left eye, and head. Plainitff suffered severe and permanent injuries of a physical and psychological nature.","documents":[{"url":"https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=fDWeB7LHqguhFfb7hSbELQ==","type":"complaint"}]}],"discipline":[{"disposition_date":"2022-06-21","case_no":"2022-24739","recommendation":"No disciplinary action","allegations":[{"desc":"Wrongfully used physical force."}]},{"disposition_date":"2022-06-21","case_no":"2022-24740","recommendation":"No disciplinary action","allegations":[{"desc":"Failed to prepare required reports."}]}],"documents":[{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21029714-vanbrakle-9fa10e88c0c931340a5777bbea63ea15a37c42b1","type":"brady-giglio","complaints":[{"complaint_id":202004841,"available":true}]},{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22085880-seh_955616","type":"employment-history"}],"payroll":{"salary":"109352","regular":"108510","overtime":"23131","other":"24927","total":"156568"},"news":[{"url":"https://gothamist.com/news/nypd-officer-charged-with-perjury-in-queens-gun-case","title":"NYPD officer charged with perjury in Queens gun case","source":"Gothamist","date":"2026-01-21"},{"url":"https://www.nyc.gov/assets/ccrb/downloads/pdf/policy_pdf/issue_based/2020NYCProtestReport.pdf","title":"2020 NYC Protests","source":"CCRB","date":"2023-01-24"},{"url":"https://www.nysfocus.com/2022/05/23/eric-adams-nypd-neighborhood-safety-team-roster/","title":"Here Are the New NYPD Gun Units' Trainees. Many Have Histories of Excessive Force Complaints","source":"New York Focus","date":"2022-05-23"}],"id":"LU5H","url":"https://www.50-a.org/officer/LU5H"}