Complaint #200204623,
February 27, 2002

Officer: Lancaster, Tahesi
Complainant: Black Male, 25
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Harding, Stephen
Complainant: Black Male, 25
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question and/or stop
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Skretch, Timothy
Complainant: Black Male, 25
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Harding, Stephen
Complainant: Black Male, 25
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Lancaster, Tahesi Black Male, 25 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Harding, Stephen Black Male, 25 Abuse of Authority: Question and/or stop Exonerated
Skretch, Timothy Black Male, 25 Force: Physical force Unfounded
Harding, Stephen Black Male, 25 Force: Physical force Exonerated

Conclusion Meanings:

'Exonerated': or 'Within NYPD Guidelines' - The conduct occurred but did not violate the NYPD's own rules, which often give officers significant discretion.
'Unfounded': Evidence suggests that the event or alleged conduct did not occur.

Further details on conclusions.


Summary

[redacted] stated that he was not certain of the exact date of the incident, but believed that it occurred at 1:30 in the afternoon. [redacted] was sitting on a bench in front of [redacted] which is directly across the street from [redacted] He was with a group of five to eight men that included [redacted] and [redacted]. [redacted] stated that the group had been outside for approximately an hour when they first encountered the police, and they were not drinking alcohol or using drugs. [redacted] and [redacted] who are two of [redacted]'s first cousins, live at [redacted] and [redacted] all live elsewhere.
A marked patrol car pulled up next to the group driven by Sergeant Stephen Harding and Officer Tahesi Lancaster. [redacted] explained that he and his friends have had numerous encounters with Sergeant Harding and Officer Lancaster, as well as with Officer Timothy Skretch. He added that all three officers are assigned to patrol or foot posts in the Lower East Side housing projects. [redacted] was also able to provide detailed physical descriptions of each officer, as well as their names. [redacted]
Sergeant Harding and Officer Lancaster exited their vehicle and Sergeant Harding told [redacted] and his companions to "get the fuck out of here." He added, "I told you guys before that these are my buildings!" [redacted] stood up and said, "I live in this building." "I don't give a fuck," replied Sergeant Harding. [redacted] noted that "tensions started to build" between the officers and his friends, and "words were exchanged." [redacted] did not deny that he and his friends might have cursed at the officers, but he stated that Sergeant Harding had no right to tell them to move.
Sergeant Harding came to stand directly in front of [redacted] and [redacted] began walking north towards [redacted] 1. As he left, he yelled, "I'm tired of y'all, coming around here fucking with us." One of the officers responded, "keep talking, and we're going to lock your ass up." [redacted] replied, "Arrest me then." [redacted]... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: February 27, 2002
Received: July 11, 2002
Closed: May 1, 2003

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - street
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 7th Precinct Manhattan
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Witness Officers: Craig Defronzo, Steven Kasprzak, Victor Leandry, Marie Mulvihill, Ramon Valdez