Complaint #200409686,
September 29, 2004

Officer: Carbonell, Rolando
Complainant: Black Male, 49
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Burns, Stephen
Complainant: Black Male, 49
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question and/or stop
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Burns, Stephen
Complainant: Black Male, 49
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Burns, Stephen
Complainant: Black Male, 49
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Burns, Stephen
Complainant: Black Male, 49
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Carbonell, Rolando Black Male, 49 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Unsubstantiated
Burns, Stephen Black Male, 49 Abuse of Authority: Question and/or stop Exonerated
Burns, Stephen Black Male, 49 Force: Physical force Unsubstantiated
Burns, Stephen Black Male, 49 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Unsubstantiated
Burns, Stephen Black Male, 49 Discourtesy: Word Unsubstantiated

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.
'Unsubstantiated': or 'Unable to Determine' - The alleged conduct was investigated but could not determine both that the conduct occurred and that it broke the rules.

Further details on conclusions.


Summary

On September 29, 2004, at approximately 10:45PM while exiting Morningside Park, he was stopped by three plainclothes officers, namely, PO Rolando Carbonell, Sgt. Stephen Burns, and PO Rafael Iturralde (Allegations A). The three officers exited their unmarked vehicle and called [redacted] over to them. PO Carbonell asked [redacted] for identification and told him that he was not supposed to be in the park after 10:00PM, because it was closed. When [redacted] refuted the assertion that the park was closed, PO Carbonell told him that he was trespassing and that he could be given a summons or be arrested for being there (Allegation B). When [redacted] alerted the officers that there were other people in the park of "European descent," and asked why they were not being stopped, Sgt. Burns said to [redacted] "Well now you're talking about race you stupid fuck, you "motherfucking asshole" (Allegation C). I'm going to throw you in jail if you say another word" (Allegation D). [redacted] was then issued a summons for [redacted] by PO Carbonell. As [redacted] began to walk out of the park, Sgt. Burns walked up behind him and began to jostle and push up against him with his chest, and to rub his handcuffs together; opening and closing them in what he deemed a threatening manner (Allegation E). With Sgt. Burns walking behind him, [redacted] eventually exited Morningside Park and proceeded on his route home. Read report for details.


Details

Incident: September 29, 2004
Received: September 30, 2004
Closed: October 21, 2005

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - street
Location: Park
In NYPD 26th Precinct Manhattan
Outcome: Summons - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: Rafael Iturralde