Complaint #200501478,
November 18, 2004

Officer: Raso, Michael
Complainant: White Male, 21
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Abrams, Donald
Complainant: White Male, 21
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Abrams, Donald
Complainant: White Male, 21
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Abrams, Donald
Complainant: White Male, 21
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Abrams, Donald
Complainant: White Male, 21
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Abrams, Donald
Complainant: White Male, 21
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of summons
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Raso, Michael White Male, 21 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Unsubstantiated
Abrams, Donald White Male, 21 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Exonerated
Abrams, Donald White Male, 21 Abuse of Authority: Frisk Exonerated
Abrams, Donald White Male, 21 Force: Physical force Unfounded
Abrams, Donald White Male, 21 Discourtesy: Word Unsubstantiated
Abrams, Donald White Male, 21 Abuse of Authority: Threat of summons 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.
'Unfounded': Evidence suggests that the event or alleged conduct did not occur.
'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 November 18, 2004, at approximately 11:45 PM, [redacted] was standing next to his car, speaking with a friend of his, when he saw a police car drive by the two of them very slowly. After saying goodbye to his friend, [redacted] got into his car and drove down the street. He was stopped at a light when the police car from earlier pulled up next to him. After the light changed, [redacted] began to drive and the police car was driving behind him, when they flashed their lights and pulled [redacted] over.
A police officer, identified by [redacted] through his shield number as SGT Abrams, exited the police car and approached [redacted]'s vehicle. [redacted] asked him what was wrong but SGT Abrams responded by telling [redacted] to step out of the vehicle. [redacted] asked what he had done wrong, but he was again told to step out of the car. [redacted] opened his car door and SGT Abrams pulled [redacted] out of the car and threw him against the back of the car. He told [redacted] to "put his hands against the trunk and spread his legs." SGT Abrams then kicked [redacted]'s legs open, saying that he had told [redacted] to "spread his legs apart."
A second officer, identified through the investigation as PO Michael Raso, approached the two of them and SGT Abrams asked [redacted] where he was going and [redacted] replied that he was going to New Jersey. He then asked [redacted] where he had been coming from and [redacted] replied "New Jersey" because he had originally come from there. SGT Abrams then asked [redacted] if he "thought they were idiots, because he was coming from and going to New Jersey." SGT Abrams also called [redacted] a "smartass" and questioned him about his friend by asking him who he was and what they had been doing together. While this was going on, a third officer, identified through the investigation as PO William Maisonette, was standing silently by the police vehicle.
SGT Abrams asked [redacted] what he had in the car and PO Raso then searched [redacted]'s car. He looked on the floor of the... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: November 18, 2004
Received: February 10, 2005
Closed: July 14, 2005

Reason for contact: Moving violation
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 47th Precinct Bronx
Outcome: Moving violation summons issued

Witness Officers: William Maisonette