Complaint #200500040,
December 31, 2004

Officer: Dannecker, Michael
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 23
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Dannecker, Michael Hispanic Male, 23 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop 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.

Further details on conclusions.


Summary

He alleged that Police Officer Michael Dannecker of the 7th Precinct stopped his vehicle on Rivington Street in Manhattan. Without asking [redacted] for his driver license and registration, PO Dannecker attempted to remove him from the vehicle, telling him that the car smelled of marijuana. [redacted] denied smoking marijuana [redacted] PO Dannecker subsequently issued [redacted] a summons [redacted]. [redacted] claimed that PO Dannecker's actions constituted harassment and that he believed he was stopped because he was a Hispanic male driving a new car in a mostly white neighborhood. The undersigned investigator interviewed [redacted] PO Dannecker and his two partners, POs Christopher Milano and Adam Schachtel. Documents relevant to this case were also obtained, including the summons PO Dannecker issued to [redacted]. A credibility analysis indicates that PO Dannecker's testimony was credible. He stated that after he stopped [redacted] for playing his car radio at a high-volume, he smelled marijuana and saw smoke coming out of the car window. PO Dannecker then candidly admitted that his suspicion that the odor was coming from [redacted] vehicle was mistaken. He then issued [redacted] the summons for unreasonable noise. [redacted] Read report for details.


Details

Incident: December 31, 2004
Received: January 2, 2005
Closed: August 11, 2005

Reason for contact: Other
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 7th Precinct Manhattan
Outcome: Summons - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: Christophe Milano, Adam Schachtel