Complaint #200306684,
August 8, 2003

Summary

[redacted] a Pennsylvania resident who works in New York City, was interviewed on September 11, 2003 about this incident when he reiterated the basic details he provided in his complaint narrative. At approximately 11:15 PM on August 8, 2003, [redacted] pulled his gray 1989 Mitsubishi Galant over on Southern Boulevard between Westchester and Hunts Point Avenues. Four male officers in plainclothes then exited their unmarked car, three of whom approached [redacted] vehicle. PO #1 (later identified in a photo array session as PO Joseph Stynes) was described as having a mustache and goatee; PO #2 (later identified as Capt. Dermot Shea) as a slim 6'0" officer with "short blonde hair and light eyes;" no specific description was provided for either PO #3 (identified as Det. Juan Jaime, who spoke with [redacted] or PO #4 (identified as Sgt. Peter Fiorillo, who remained alongside of the officer's vehicle).
PO Stynes told [redacted] that he had been driving at an "excess[ive] speed" which prompted [redacted] to ask for a radar device read-out to reflect his previous speed. While PO Stynes asked [redacted] if he was giving him a "hard time," Capt. Shea requested that [redacted] roll down his (front passenger-side) window. PO Stynes asked [redacted] if he and his friends had been "zipping." [redacted] informed the officer that he was unfamiliar with such a term. PO Stynes replied, "it's common street terminology" but did not provide a definition. [redacted] and [redacted] were all asked to provide proof of identification - [redacted] was also asked for his vehicle's registration. [redacted] gave Capt. Shea a photo identification card issued by [redacted] Along with his driver's license, [redacted] also gave the officers a Patrolmen's Benevolent Association (PBA) card. The officers then stepped away from [redacted] car with the identifications in hand.
When the officers returned with the identifications, [redacted] and [redacted] were asked to step out of the vehicle; each of the men was then frisked. [redacted] described:... Read report for details.