Complaint #200700538,
January 11, 2007

Officer: Ettienne, Vaughan
Complainant: Black Male, 24
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Ettienne, Vaughan
Complainant: Black Male, 24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Ettienne, Vaughan
Complainant: Black Male, 24
Allegation: Force: Other blunt instrument as a club
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Ettienne, Vaughan
Complainant: Black Male, 24
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Cotton, Raymond
Complainant: Black Male, 24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Cotton, Raymond
Complainant: Black Male, 24
Allegation: Force: Pepper spray
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Ettienne, Vaughan
Complainant: Black Male, 24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Bobe, Pedro
Complainant: Black Male, 24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 21-24
Allegation: Force: Other blunt instrument as a club
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Ettienne, Vaughan Black Male, 24 Discourtesy: Word Unfounded
Ettienne, Vaughan Black Male, 24 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Unsubstantiated
Ettienne, Vaughan Black Male, 24 Force: Other blunt instrument as a club Unfounded
Ettienne, Vaughan Black Male, 24 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Cotton, Raymond Black Male, 24 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Exonerated
Cotton, Raymond Black Male, 24 Force: Pepper spray Exonerated
Ettienne, Vaughan Black Male, 24 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Exonerated
Bobe, Pedro Black Male, 24 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Exonerated
Unknown Officer Black Male, 21-24 Force: Other blunt instrument as a club 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.
'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

[redacted] stated that on January 11, 2007, [redacted] was stopped three times by officers and questioned about the license plate of his vehicle, which was falling off. [redacted] did not have any complaints about the first two incidents but provided the following statements about the third incident.
At about 11:45pm, [redacted] was driving on Union Street in Brooklyn and turned onto Blake Avenue. He was pulled over on Blake Avenue by an unmarked car. An officer identified through investigation as PO Pedro Bobe approached [redacted] and asked for license and registration. [redacted] pointed out that he had been pulled over previously, assuming it was the same officers, but provided his license and registration. PO Bobe stated that it was not him and [redacted] agreed. At this time, two officers identified by the CCRB as PO Vaughan Ettienne and Sergeant Raymond Cotton approached [redacted]'s vehicle. An officer asked [redacted] about his license plate and [redacted] pointed out that he had placed it in his window because it had fallen off. PO Bobe asked [redacted] to step out of the vehicle. [redacted] protested, asking if his information checked out, but PO Bobe asked [redacted] again to step out. [redacted] complied and as soon as he exited, PO Ettienne asked him to step to the back of the car. [redacted] refused and asked why, saying that if this is a routine traffic stop, then the officers were supposed to check his information but that they had not.
PO Ettienne and [redacted] argued about this for a few minutes longer, until PO Ettienne, who had been standing on the passenger side of the vehicle, walked around to the driver's side. PO Ettienne grabbed [redacted]'s sweater in the shoulder and chest area with both hands and pulled him to the side. He then tossed [redacted] forward while tripping him with his leg against [redacted]'s right shin, such that [redacted] fell flat on the ground. PO Ettienne then grabbed [redacted]'s right arm, placed it behind his back and cuffed it. [redacted] was having trouble... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: January 11, 2007
Received: January 12, 2007
Closed: November 5, 2007

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - street
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 73rd Precinct Brooklyn
Outcome: Summons - disorderly conduct