Complaint #200711337,
August 4, 2007

Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Female, 40-44
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Female, 40-44
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
Officer: Vazquez, Mario
Complainant: Black Female, 44
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Vazquez, Mario
Complainant: Black Female, 44
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Quinones, Earl
Complainant: Black Female, 44
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Female, 40-44
Allegation: Force: Gun Pointed
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Bennett, Mervin
Complainant: Black Female, 44
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Board Conclusion
Unknown Officer Black Female, 40-44 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Officer(s) Unidentified
Unknown Officer Black Female, 40-44 Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Complainant Uncooperative
Vazquez, Mario Black Female, 44 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Exonerated
Vazquez, Mario Black Female, 44 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Unsubstantiated
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
Quinones, Earl Black Female, 44 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Exonerated
Unknown Officer Black Female, 40-44 Force: Gun Pointed Exonerated
Bennett, Mervin Black Female, 44 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) 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.
'Officer(s) Unidentified': Unable to identify the officers who committed the alleged misconduct
'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 August 4, 2007, at approximately 9:45 PM, she left a barbeque at Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx with her friend, [redacted] and [redacted]'s brother, [redacted] and his [redacted]-old goddaughter, [redacted]'s [redacted]-old daughter. They all walked over to [redacted]'s vehicle, which was parked at Colonial Avenue and East 196th Street in the Bronx. They all got inside the vehicle and as [redacted] began to pull out of his parking spot, they were pulled over by PO Mario Vazquez and PO Earl Quinones, who were in a marked police car [Allegations A and B]. PO Vazquez and PO Quinones were informed by [redacted]'s nephew, [redacted], that [redacted] was wanted for [redacted]. PO Vazquez and PO Quinones called for back-up and [redacted] estimated that between 15 to 30 police officers responded to the location. [redacted] was instructed to exit the vehicle. [redacted] was then instructed to exit and when she did, she observed an officer, PO2, with his gun pointed in her direction [Allegation C]. Sgt. Bennett then instructed her to put her hands up. [redacted] put her hands up "low" and Sgt. Bennett, over the loudspeaker, allegedly told her that if she did not put her hands up "there is going to be some shooting out here tonight" [Allegation D]. After the other civilians were out of the vehicle, PO Vazquez and other unidentified officers allegedly began searching the car [Allegations E and F]. [redacted] also saw an officer, PO4, search through her pocketbook [Allegation G]. [redacted] was released at the scene but [redacted] and [redacted] were taken to the stationhouse. Read report for details.


Details

Incident: August 4, 2007
Received: August 7, 2007
Closed: January 21, 2009

Reason for contact: Report of other crime
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 45th Precinct Bronx
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: David Moshier, James Murphy