{"active":false,"first_name":"Michael","last_name":"Zak","race":"White","gender":"Male","rank":"DT3","command":{"command":"GANG SI"},"shield_no":5972,"ended_date":"2017-09-01","taxid":"927697","complaint_ids":[201411311,201410394,201213697,200412426],"command_history":[{"command":"066 PCT","id":"66pct"}],"appt_date":"2000-09-29","lawsuits":[{"name":"Alicea, Lizzie vs Detective Spinelli, Steve, et al.","start_date":"2019-03-04","disposition_date":"2023-08-04","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"Administrative Closing","docket":"153005/2018","court":"Supreme Court - Richmond","officer_name":"Zak, Michael","summary":"On October 29, 2015, at approximately 8:00 a.m., the defendant police officers STEVE SPINELLI, MATTHEW EDELMAN, IGNAZIO CONCA, MICHAEL ZAK, and FRANK MUZIKAR allegedly executed a search warrant inside of plaintiff’s mother’s apartment. At approximately 11:30 a.m., plaintiff went to her mother’s house with the intention of visiting her mother and upon her arrival, plaintiff saw police officers and saw her mother standing outside of the building crying. Despite being aware of the fact that plaintiff did not reside with her mother and despite not being physically present when the defendant police officers executed the search warrant, the defendant police unlawfully handcuffed plaintiff and arrested her without probable cause or legal justification. Plaintiff was transported to the 122nd precinct where she was searched, photographed, fingerprinted, and detained in a filthy holding cell for many hours. At approximately 11:00 p.m., plaintiff was transported from the 122nd Precinct to Staten Island Central Booking and placed in a holding cell. While plaintiff was in custody at the precinct, defendants prepared and filed false paperwork with the DA charging plaintiff with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree. As a result, the plaintiff was approximately 29 hours in custody and was released on her own recognizance. Plaintiff was required to make approximately 10 additional court appearances until all charges against her were dismissed and sealed in their entirety on October 7, 2016.","documents":[{"url":"https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=LFDIKP_PLUS_EAIMeOkY/oNu4rA==","type":"complaint"}]},{"name":"Harris, Reginald vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2017-10-27","disposition_date":"2018-08-20","payout_amount":2500,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"17CV05934","court":"U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY","officer_name":"Zak, Michael","summary":"Plaintiff was driving his car when Defendant officers stopped plaintiff without justification or provocation and ordered plaintiff to get out. Defendants forcibly grabbed plaintiff and searched plaintiff's person, grabbed plaintiff's penis, and used vial and offensive language against plaintiff while touching his penis. Thereafter, defendants handcuffed plaintiff, ordered plaintiff onto his knees on the road behind his car and forced him to kneel on the pavement for approximately one hour. Defendants removed the memory card from plaintiff's cell phone and stole it from him. The defendants then un-cuffed plaintiff and left the scene.","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nyed.408070/gov.uscourts.nyed.408070.1.0.pdf","type":"complaint"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6259908/harris-v-the-city-of-new-york/"},{"name":"Smith, Kenneth, et al. vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2015-06-30","disposition_date":"2016-06-01","payout_amount":2500,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"15CV05030","court":"U.S. District Court - Southern District NY","officer_name":"Zak, Michael","summary":"On January 23, 2015, Plaintiffs Kenneth Smith and Rylawn Walker, African American men, were behaving lawfully and not acting in a suspicious manner when they were approached, accosted, falsely arrested, and falsely imprisoned by the Defendant NYPD Officers.  Each Plaintiff was imprisoned approximately 24 hours after his unlawful arrest and compelled to make numerous court appearances until June 11, 2015, when the criminal charges were dismissed.  While the Plaintiffs were being held, Defendant NYPD Officer Robert Woodhouse, with the acquiescence of the other defendants, misrepresented facts in the police reports and other documents to falsely state the Plaintiffs had committed offenses including possessing marijuana and other controlled substances.  The defendant officers maliciously prosecuted the Plaintiffs to avoid discipline for their abuse of authority, to obtain overtime compensation, and to obtain credit for an arrest.","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.444099/gov.uscourts.nysd.444099.30.0.pdf","type":"complaint"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6083752/smith-v-the-city-of-new-york/"},{"name":"Prekas, Marko vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2014-10-14","disposition_date":"2015-10-30","payout_amount":75000,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"14CV05744","court":"U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY","officer_name":"Zak, Michael","summary":"On March 13, 2012, ten NYPD officers executed a search warrant at 311 Gordon Street, Staten Island, but unlawfully entered and searched Marko Prekas' separate basement apartment, not covered by the warrant. Michael Driscoll And Robert Patelli, entered Prekas’ apartment with firearms. Prekas was awakened by an officer pointing guns at him. When PREKAS stood up out of his bed, a defendant officer pressed his firearm against Prekas’ chest and a defendant officer, believed to be Robert Patelli, handcuffed Prekas without cause. Defendants Matthew Edelman, Donald Stewart, Luis Torino, William Russo, Kevin Sills, Matthew Bilotti, Michael Zak, and Dennis Maira, entered the location and searched both the first floor and Prekas’ apartment. He was then arrested based on false allegations by Officer Edelman, leading to malicious prosecution and detainment without bail until charges were dismissed on October 3, 2012.","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nyed.361413/gov.uscourts.nyed.361413.16.0.pdf","type":"complaint"},{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4920241-Prekas-v-City-of-New-York-et-al"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13241850/prekas-v-city-of-new-york/"},{"name":"Leitoe, Jefferson vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2014-10-07","disposition_date":"2015-02-02","payout_amount":20000,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"14CV05865","court":"U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY","officer_name":"Zak, Michael","summary":"At approximately 4:00 p.m. on February 1, 2014, plaintiff Jefferson Leitoe was lawfully in front of his home, with his younger brother, at 15 Van Buren Street in Staten Island, New York. The defendant NYPD officers involved in this case were, Detective Michael Zak, Detective Robert Woodhouse and Officer John and Jane Doe 1 through 10.  Plain clothed officers approached Mr. Leitoe and his brother. One of the defendant officers grabbed plaintiff’s younger brother and began to search him. From a lawful distance, Mr. Leitoe calmly asked the defendant officer for his name and shield number, to which the defendant officer responded, in sum, “shut the fuck up.” The plain clothed officer then directed additional defendant officers whom had arrived to arrest plaintiff; hearing this, Mr. Leitoe complied and put his hands in the air. Defendants approached Mr. Leitoe, punched him squarely in his face, threw him to the ground and handcuffed him. As Mr. Leitoe lay on the ground handcuffed, defendants punched and kicked him. Without probable cause to believe he had committed any crime or offense, Mr. Leitoe was arrested and taken to the 120th precinct. At the precinct, defendants told plaintiff that before he would be transferred to Central Booking, he first had to clean the filthy, urine soaked holding cell. Defendants falsely informed employees of the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office that they had observed plaintiff commit a crime or offense, including resisting arrest and prepared false paperwork including an arrest report. At no point did the officers observe Mr. Leitoe commit a crime or offense. Mr. Leitoe was eventually taken to Richmond County Criminal Court where he was released on his own recognizance after approximately nineteen hours in custody. After several criminal court appearances, Mr. Leitoe accepted an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal with immediate sealing. After his release, Mr. Leitoe experienced significant pain and tenderness to the right side of his face, neck and back. Mr. Leitoe was taken to Richmond University Medical Center by ambulance on February 2, 2014 and treated for his injuries. To date, plaintiff continues to feel pain including to his low back.","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nyed.361498/gov.uscourts.nyed.361498.1.0.pdf","type":"complaint"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13139878/leitoe-v-city-of-new-york/"},{"name":"Patterson, Christian vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2014-08-04","disposition_date":"2016-03-09","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"14CV05330","court":"U.S. District Court - Southern District NY","officer_name":"Zak, Michael","summary":"On June 12, 2014, between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., plaintiff was at his home in Staten Island.  During that time, the defendant NYPD officers, including Detective John Fahim and Captain William Russo, forcibly entered without a warrant.  They broke down plaintiff's door, threw him violently to the floor, and handcuffed him.  When plaintiff asked to see a search warrant, one of the officers placed his knee on plaintiff's handcuffed hand, causing severe injuries.","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.429691.26.0.pdf","type":"complaint"},{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4920227-Patterson-v-City-of-New-York-et-al"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4353879/patterson-v-fahim/"},{"name":"King, Gina, et al. vs City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2013-08-02","disposition_date":"2026-01-06","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"Administrative Closing","docket":"504037/2013","court":"Supreme Court - Kings","summary":"On August 14, 2012, two plain clothed Defendant Officers ran a redlight in Brooklyn at around 7PM and almost crashed into Plaintiffs’ car. At the next stop light, the Defendant Officers exited their vehcile and approached Plaintiffs, after Plaintiffs complained about the Defendant Officer’s reckless driving. The Defendant Officer’s threatened and insulted the Plaintiffs and told Plaintifs they were “cops” without any proper identification. When Plaintiffs continued to complain, the  Defendant Officers physically attacked the Plaintiffs. They punched and kicked the male Plaintiff multiple times in the head and body. The female Plaintiff began calling 911 for assistance and the Defendant Officers punched her in the right side of her head. The Defendant Officers then fled the scene.\n\nPlaintiffs were treated for their injuries by Emergency Medical Services that arrived to help them. NYPD cars arrived and Plaintiffs explained the events and showed the officers the digital photos of the plain clothes officers. The responding officers then took Plaintiffs to 62nd precinct. At the precinct, Plaintiffs’ ID’s were seized and they were not permittef to leave. After 7.5 hours in police custody, the Plaintiffs were released and were not charged with any crime.","documents":[{"url":"https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=rdUieUpAK6Fyj/4H9aXHmw==","type":"complaint"}]},{"officer_name":"Zak, Michael","disposition":"Settlement","start_date":"2012-04-19","disposition_date":"2014-03-13","court":"U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY","docket":"12CV01708","name":"Grigger, Hasaun vs City of New York, et al.","payout_amount":50000,"documents":[{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4919501-Grigger-v-City-of-New-York-et-al"},{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4919502-Grigger-v-City-of-New-York-et-al"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13048908/grigger-v-city-of-new-york/"},{"name":"Brown et al v. City of New York et al","court":"U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY","payout_amount":35000,"disposition":"Settlement","documents":[{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5378161-Brown-et-al-v-City-of-New-York-et-al"},{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5378160-Brown-et-al-v-City-of-New-York-et-al"}],"docket":"10CV00634","officer_name":"Michael Zak"},{"name":"Smith et al v. The City Of New York , et al","court":"U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY","plaintiff_race":"Black or African American","summary":"Plaintiffs were approached and arrested by defendant officers, taken into custody, and charged with 220.03 and 221.05. Charges were later dismissed.","documents":[{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4922096-Smith-et-al-v-The-City-Of-New-York-et-al"},{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4922097-Smith-et-al-v-The-City-Of-New-York-et-al"}],"docket":"16CV00845","officer_name":"Michael Zak"}],"documents":[{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22119990-927697_01272017_2017061pdf","date":"2017-01-27T00:00:00.000Z","type":"trial-decision"}],"id":"SC3T","url":"https://www.50-a.org/officer/SC3T"}