{"active":true,"first_name":"John","last_name":"Balestriere","race":"White","gender":"Male","rank":"LT","command":{"command":"SRG 4","assignment_date":"2024-01-10","id":"SRG4"},"taxid":"939897","complaint_ids":[202104073,201014297],"command_history":[{"command":"CRC","id":"CRC"},{"command":"079 PCT","id":"79pct"},{"command":"088 PCT","id":"88pct"}],"appt_date":"2006-01-09","shield_no_history":[3206,1088],"lawsuits":[{"name":"Howard, James vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2013-09-17","disposition_date":"2014-07-11","payout_amount":8500,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"13CV05136","court":"U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY","officer_name":"Balestriere, John","summary":"On February 5, 2013, Plaintiff was unlawfully assaulted and arrested by NYPD Officers Douglas Graham, Ronald Stafford, John Balestriere, Robert Holt, and other unindentified officers.  Plaintiff was visiting his friend on the seventh floor of this friend's apartment building, when the officers threw plaintiff against the wall, twisted his arm behind him, then threw him to the ground, where they stromped, beat, and choked plaintiff.  He was then put into handcuffs and dragged him from the building.  While he was walking, one of the officers intentionally tripped plaintiff, and since he was in handcuffs and could not break his fall, he landed directly on his face, causing severe injury.  Plaintiff was then sprayed with mace while handcuffed, taken to a police precinct, and falsely charged with crimes he did not commit.  He was taken to Woodhull Hospital and Long Island College Hospital for treatment of his injuries, including fractured teeth.  He was eventually arraigned in Kings County Criminal Court and sent to Rikers Island, where he remained until February 18, 2013.  All criminal charges against Plaintiff were subsequently dismissed.","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nyed.347084/gov.uscourts.nyed.347084.8.0.pdf","type":"complaint"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13050105/howard-v-city-of-new-york/"},{"name":"Francis, Ronald, et al. vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2013-04-03","disposition_date":"2014-02-20","payout_amount":40000,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"13CV01546","court":"U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY","officer_name":"Balestriere, John","summary":"On December 24, 2021, NYPD officers including Brian Christensen, arrested plaintiffs Ronald Francis and Nicole Hunter-Francis's son. Plaintiff Ronald Francis lawfully began recording the arrest. Defendant officer Adam Dumelle grabbed Mr. Francis by the arm, knocked the cell phone out of his hand, and punched Mr. Francis in the head. Officer Dumelle, Brian Mecseri and other officers continued to batter and assault Mr. Francis. Mr. Francis was struck in the groin, stomach, back and body, grabbed, picked up and slammed into a vehicle where he was further assaulted. Mr. Francis was struck in his  back and body while handcuffs were placed on his wrists whereby after being handcuffed he was dragged to the ground, his legs stepped on and dragged to the police vehicle with his arms. Mr. Francis was then transported to the 79th police precinct where he was unlawfully imprisoned and charged on baseless false charges made by defendant officers Brian Christensen and Adam Dumelle. On July 20, 2912,  the false charges against Mr. Francis were dismissed and sealed. \n\nDefendant officer Ronald Stafford assaulted and battered plaintiff Nicole Hunter-Francis and Defendant officer Ronald Stafford grabbed plaintiff Ms. Hunter-Francis, slammed her onto the hood of the car, and pushed her into other vehicles.","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nyed.340752.13.0.pdf","type":"complaint"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4322519/francis-v-city-of-new-york/"},{"officer_name":"Balestriere, John","disposition":"Settlement","start_date":"2012-07-06","disposition_date":"2013-03-07","court":"Supreme Court - Kings","docket":"013433/2012","name":"Valderrama, Giovanny and Rodriguez, Bernaldo vs City of New York, et al.","payout_amount":33500},{"name":"Rowe et al v. New York City et al","court":"U.S. District Court - Southern District NY","payout_amount":165000,"disposition":"Settlement","summary":"While witnessing his neighbor's arrest, Plaintiff 1 was hit by Defendant Balestrieri repeatedly until he was dragged into an alleyway and beat by officers Balestrieri, Clarke, and Remariz. Plaintiff 2 witnessed Plaintiff 1's beating, asked the officers to stop, and in response was assaulted by Sgt. Mack.  Plaintiffs were taken to the 79th precinct, where Plaintiff 1 was beaten again and needed hospitalization. Both plaintiffs were charged with 120.05(3); 120.00(1); 195.05; 205.30; 240.20(1); and 240.26(1). All charges later dismissed.","documents":[{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4919106-Rowe-et-al-v-New-York-City-et-al"},{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4919105-Rowe-et-al-v-New-York-City-et-al"}],"docket":"10CV05058","officer_name":"John Balestriere"}],"documents":[{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21020605-balestriere-d28f8ce65ca65a0f7ebdd8b7e369d7dd7bd3fe6a","type":"brady-giglio","complaints":[{"complaint_id":201116605,"available":true}]},{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21056130-balestriere-939897-02-17-21","type":"brady-giglio"}],"image":"https://www.50-a.org/images/officer/SE8V-john-balestriere.jpg","payroll":{"salary":"154751","regular":"150396","overtime":"40253","other":"21854","total":"212503"},"news":[{"title":"New Year's Day video shows three cops punching, kicking suspect Nagi Benson in Brooklyn alley","url":"http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/new-year-day-video-shows-cops-punching-kicking-suspect-nagi-benson-brooklyn-alley-article-1.457592","source":"New York Daily News","date":"2010-01-29"}],"id":"SE8V","url":"https://www.50-a.org/officer/SE8V"}