{"active":true,"first_name":"Melvin","last_name":"Chittum","race":"White","gender":"Male","rank":"PO","command":{"command":"045 PCT","assignment_date":"2006-12-27","id":"45pct"},"shield_no":7373,"taxid":"941547","complaint_ids":[202602067,202004640,201708314,201707292,201708302,200711876],"appt_date":"2006-07-10","middle_initial":"G","lawsuits":[{"name":"Douglas, Lorenzo vs City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2025-09-23","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"819814/2025E","court":"Supreme Court - Bronx"},{"name":"Phillips, Wendell vs City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2022-08-30","disposition_date":"2024-12-26","payout_amount":50000,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"809445/2022E","court":"Supreme Court - Bronx","summary":"On April 26, 2021, Wendell Phillips (Plaintiff) had brought a motorcycle, via pick-up truck, to the motorcycle mechanic shop. Upong arriving, defendant Officers got out of an unmarked police vehicle and approached the shop and demanded paperwork on Plaintiff’s motorcycle. Plaintiff informed defendants that their documentation was at home and that they only brought the bike to the motorcycle mechanic shop for repairs. Additional officers arrived in unmarked vehicles and, acting in concert, grabbed plaintiff by his arms and told Plaintiff to remove his hand(s) from his motorcycle. Plaintiff obeyed Defendant Officer’s orders; however, defendants grabbed Plaintiff from behind, grabbed Plaintiff by the arm, and pushed Plaintiff against a fence. Approximately eight Defendant Officers, while acting in concert, thereafter assaulted Plaintiff. During the assault, Defendant Officers pulled Plaintiff’s arms and legs, kicked and punched Plaintiff, put knees upon Plaintiff’s back, caused Plaintiff to fall to the ground, caused Plaintiff to hit his head, repeatedly lifted and dropped Plaintiff, choked Plaintiff cutting off his ability to breathe, pulled plaintiffs pants down, tased Plaintiff. Defendant officers then detained and falsely arrested Plaintiff. Defendant Officer’s placed Plaintiff in unreasonably tight handcuffs, which he complained about, and which did cause severe injuries to Plaintiffs’ wrists. Plaintiff was later transported to the hospital via ambulance. Plaintiff was falsely charged with Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest, crimes which the Defendants knew or should have known Plaintiff was not involved in the alleged commission of. Plaintiff was unlawfully detained for approximately twelve hours before being released.","documents":[{"url":"https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=EC3fjLhYmUSE5pf4ADicHQ==","type":"complaint"}]},{"name":"Tingling, Deron vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2019-12-05","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"029361/2019E","court":"Supreme Court - Bronx","officer_name":"Chittum, Melvin","summary":"On August 9, 2016 at approximately 10:30 p.m. Plaintiff drove to a hotel with the intention of spending the night but when he arrived he was informed the location was now a homeless shelter. Plaintiff returned to his vehicle and as he was driving away ran over a piece of wood that became lodged under his vehicle. Plaintiff was attempting to drive forward and backward to dislodge the wood when a security officer approached, removed Plaintiff's keys from the vehicle, and called the police to report Plaintiff as a suspected drunk driver. \n\nPOs Melvin Chittum, Matthew T. Hart, Allen Wang, Darren Sukennikoff, and Sergeant Robert Gutierrez responded and administered coordination and breathalyzer tests. Plaintiff passed both but POs falsely claimed he failed. POs unlawfully handcuffed, arrested, and transported Plaintiff against his will to the 45th Precinct where he was unlawfully searched and detained for several hours. On August 10, 2016 at approximately 2:00 a.m. POs attempted to administer a chemical test and Plaintiff asked to make a phone call first. POs refused to allow Plaintiff to make a phone call and falsely alleged Plaintiff refused the chemical test. POs caused a malicious prosecution based on knowingly false evidence. Plaintiff was arraigned approximately 24 hours after his original detention, and ultimately missed 21 days of work and lost income fighting the malicious prosecution until all charges were dismissed in Plaintiff's favor on July 26, 2018.","documents":[{"url":"https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=NgZAck4/S3GwCQqdvCiw4w==","type":"complaint"}]},{"name":"Egan, Frank vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2016-03-01","disposition_date":"2019-06-05","payout_amount":227500,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"16CV01479","court":"U.S. District Court - Southern District NY","officer_name":"Chittum, Melvin","summary":"Defendant Officers arrived at Plaintiffs home and accused him of shining a laser from the window of the house at passing aircraft. Plaintiff was arrested, taken to the 45th Precinct, and charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Reckless Endangerment, Directing at an Aircraft, and Assault with intent to cause physical injury to an Officer. Charges were eventually dismissed","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.454075.1.0.pdf","type":"complaint"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4356655/egan-v-new-york-city/"}],"image":"https://www.50-a.org/images/officer/QRPX-melvin-chittum.jpg","payroll":{"salary":"109352","regular":"108510","overtime":"60370","other":"22684","total":"191564"},"id":"QRPX","url":"https://www.50-a.org/officer/QRPX"}