Complaint #200412592,
December 18, 2004

Officer: Etienne, Henry
Complainant: Black Female, 34
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Sylvester, Antoinette
Complainant: Black Female, 34
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Matzinger, Joseph
Complainant: Black Female, 34
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Sylvester, Antoinette
Complainant: Black Female, 34
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Etienne, Henry Black Female, 34 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Unfounded
Sylvester, Antoinette Black Female, 34 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Unfounded
Matzinger, Joseph Black Female, 34 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Sylvester, Antoinette Black Female, 34 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Unfounded

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

At approximately 4:30 a.m. that morning, [redacted] was involved in a car accident at the intersection of 119th Street and Nashville Boulevard. Three other parked cars were damaged at that location. PO Antoinette Sylvester and PO Henry Etienne responded. When they arrived, they saw [redacted] sitting in the driver's seat of a running vehicle that was badly damaged. [redacted] alleged that PO Sylvester and PO Etienne refused to provide her with their name and shield numbers (Allegation A and Allegation B respectively). Subsequently, PO Sylvester threatened to arrest her for speaking with the individuals whose cars were damaged (Allegation C). PO Sylvester and PO Etienne called for a tow truck and left before it arrived. PO Joseph Matzinger and PO Giovanni Giovaniello relieved them and waited for the tow truck. When it arrived, the driver, [redacted] informed PO Matzinger that [redacted] needed to exit the vehicle. [redacted] alleged that PO Matzinger used excessive force to remove her from her vehicle (Allegation D). [redacted] sustained a swollen lip from this interaction. [redacted]'s car was ultimately towed. PO Matzinger and PO Giovanniello left scene, while [redacted] remained at the location. Read report for details.


Details

Incident: December 18, 2004
Closed: September 14, 2005

Reason for contact: Traffic accident
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 113th Precinct Queens
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Witness Officers: Giovanni Giovanniello