Complaint #200616410,
December 9, 2006

Officer: Clarke, Leonard
Complainant: Black Male, 20
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Clarke, Leonard
Complainant: Black Female, 52
Allegation: Force: Other
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Clarke, Leonard
Complainant: Black Male, 20
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Clarke, Leonard Black Male, 20 Discourtesy: Word Unsubstantiated
Clarke, Leonard Black Female, 52 Force: Other Unsubstantiated
Clarke, Leonard Black Male, 20 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest 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.
'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 December 9, 2006, at approximately 1:15 PM, [redacted] and his aunt, [redacted] drove to the Norfolk Bank in the vicinity of 995 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. [redacted] double-parked his car while [redacted] went into the bank. A police officer, identified as Police Officer Leonard Clarke, approached [redacted] car and told him that he was going to give him a summons for [redacted] [redacted] asked for a chance to move his car, and Officer Clarke told [redacted] not to talk back. When [redacted] attempted to drive away, Officer Clarke jumped in front of the car and said, "Are you fucking crazy? Don't move," and he told [redacted] to "put the fucking car in park" (allegation A). Officer Clarke asked [redacted] for his driver's license, which [redacted] provided. [redacted] asked Officer Clarke why he was acting so aggressively, and Officer Clarke said, "Why are you talking back to me? Just do what I fucking say." [redacted] called his aunt's cell phone and told her that an officer was treating him harshly, but [redacted] was next in line in the bank, and she told [redacted] that she would come out when she was finished. Officer Clarke moved to the rear of the car and spoke with a second officer, identified as Police Officer Robert Maresca. [redacted] exited the bank, approached Officer Clarke and asked him what was happening. Officer Clarke began to tell [redacted] "Your son..." but [redacted] interrupted him and said, "Don't discriminate me. Did I tell you that was my son? That's my nephew." [redacted] opened the car door, stepped out and asked [redacted] not to talk to Officer Clarke as he was "disrespecting" him. Officer Clarke pointed to [redacted] and said, "Didn't I tell you to hush your fucking mouth? If you say anything I'll have you arrested" (allegation B). [redacted] told Officer Clarke that what he said was uncalled for. Officer Clarke gestured in [redacted]'s face with his radio and told her to get back in the car, and he poked [redacted] in her right eye with the radio antenna (allegation C).... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: December 9, 2006
Closed: July 17, 2007

Reason for contact: Parking violation
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 70th Precinct Brooklyn
Outcome: Summons - disorderly conduct

Witness Officers: Robert Maresca