| Officer: | Chatterton, Keith |
|---|---|
| Allegation: | Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest |
| CCRB Conclusion: | Exonerated |
| Officer | Allegation | CCRB Conclusion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chatterton, Keith | Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest | Exonerated |
Further details on conclusions.
At approximately 11:30 a.m. on November 23, 2004, [redacted] was driving on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn when PO Keith Chatterton, who was driving a marked RMP, stopped his vehicle near a gas station at the corner of Myrtle Avenue.
After approaching [redacted]'s vehicle, PO Chatterton requested his driver's license and registration. Reaching for his wallet, [redacted] asked: "Officer, what is the problem? I'm giving you my license and registration but what is the problem?" In response, PO Chatterton accused [redacted] of not wearing his seatbelt. [redacted] who stated that he was wearing his seatbelt the entire time he was driving, denied the traffic violation and pointed to his seatbelt. PO Chatterton responded, "Well, maybe you just put it on." After [redacted] relinquished his documents, PO Chatterton walked away and reentered his marked police vehicle.
One minute later, [redacted] got out of his car and approached the police vehicle's passenger side window. After PO Chatterton rolled down his window, [redacted] respectfully asked, "Officer, can I ask you a question?" In response, PO Chatterton said, "Get back in your car." [redacted] complied and proceeded to walk away from the police vehicle. As [redacted] approached his driver's side door, he again asked, "Officer, can I ask a question?" Suddenly, PO Chatterton jumped out of his vehicle and screamed: "Get back in your car! If I hear another word out of you, I'm going to take you in. Get back in your car! Get back in your car!"
[redacted] reentered his car as PO Chatterton continued to scream before returning to the marked police vehicle. A few minutes later, PO Chatterton again approached [redacted]'s driver's side window and handed him summonses for not wearing his seatbelt and disobeying a lawful order. During the CCRB interview, [redacted] provided the investigator with contact information for a patron at the gas station, [redacted] who witnessed the incident.
Read report for details.