Complaint #200703175,
March 2, 2007

Summary

On March 2, 2007 [redacted] went into Pasquale's Grocery Store on West 162nd Street to buy a Metrocard. [redacted] went outside and waited at the bus stop in front of the deli. [redacted] met acquaintances [redacted] and [redacted]. A black Jeep came down 162nd Street and Ogden Avenue and stopped in front of the bus stop. The driver, identified through the investigation as PO Keith Ames, rolled down the window and another officer, identified through the investigation as PO Rolando Carbonell, asked [redacted] what he was staring at, and [redacted] replied, "The sky!" PO Carbonell and PO Ames jumped out of the jeep. Both officers had NYPD windbreakers on. PO Ames frisked [redacted] and also stuck his hands inside of the [redacted] pockets. PO Carbonell frisked and searched [redacted] and [redacted]. PO Carbonell and PO Ames never showed their badges or identified themselves as police officers, and they were only identified by the NYPD logo on their windbreakers. PO Ames and PO Carbonell got into the car to leave. [redacted] back was facing the street and he tried to turn around to watch the officers as they left. One of the officers, he did not remember which one, told [redacted] to turn back around. As the officers drove away, [redacted] used his cell phone to take a picture of the car and its license plate number.
[redacted] went back inside Pasquale's Grocery and [redacted] and [redacted] left. A few moments later, PO Carbonell went inside the store and allegedly choked [redacted]. [redacted] described this as PO Carbonell grabbing him from behind by the neck. PO Carbonell told [redacted] "Are you threatening my fucking family?" PO Carbonell said that the car was his personal car and he felt [redacted] was threatening his family by taking a picture of the car. PO Ames walked into the deli while PO Carbonell was talking with [redacted]. PO Carbonell then told [redacted] to get into the Jeep and held his arm as he brought him there. PO Carbonell told [redacted] to put his hands on the headrest as if he was... Read report for details.