Complaint #200718569,
December 24, 2007

Officer: Goodwin, Christophe
Complainant: Black Male, 57
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Kunst, Catherine
Complainant: Black Male, 57
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 55-59
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 55-59
Allegation: Force: Nightstick as club (incl asp & baton)
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 55-59
Allegation: Force: Pepper spray
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Goodwin, Christophe Black Male, 57 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Kunst, Catherine Black Male, 57 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Unknown Officer Black Male, 55-59 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Unknown Officer Black Male, 55-59 Force: Nightstick as club (incl asp & baton) Exonerated
Unknown Officer Black Male, 55-59 Force: Pepper spray Officer(s) Unidentified

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

Further details on conclusions.


Summary

This incident took place at 4:10 PM on December 24, 2007, in the vicinity of Union Hall Street and Archer Avenue in Queens. PO Catherine Gassick and PO Delcar Braun, both impact officers at the 103rd Precinct at the time of the incident, stopped [redacted] while on foot because [redacted] had a large crack through his front windshield of his livery car. When the officers approached [redacted] a verbal argument ensued. An additional 103rd Precinct impact foot post, PO Thomas Fitzgerald, arrived to assist. [redacted] allegedly drove forward, almost striking the officers with his vehicle. His car then stalled in the middle of the intersection, where he was again approached by the three named officers.
A struggle ensued as the officers attempted to remove [redacted] from the vehicle and place him under arrest for the equipment violation due to his non compliance with the officers' directions, and the fact that he almost hit the officers with his vehicle. Pepper spray was utilized at an undetermined point during these interactions (Allegation A). [redacted] provided resistance to the officers' attempts to remove him from the vehicle, and to place him into handcuffs. After being removed from the vehicle, [redacted] was either taken to the ground or fell. Additional officers from the 103rd Precinct, PO Christopher Goodwin and PO Shaun Weiler, assisted the three initial officers in their attempts to place [redacted] into handcuffs. [redacted] first refused to give his hands to the officers, and then kicked and pushed them. In response, officers, including PO Gassick, struck [redacted] in his legs and back (Allegations B and C), an officer struck [redacted] in his leg with an asp (Allegation D), and PO Goodwin punched [redacted] in his ribs (Allegation E). [redacted] PO Weiler, PO Braun, PO Gassick, and PO Fitzgerald all reported injuries as a result of this incident. [redacted] was arrested for four counts of assault against the injured officers, for an equipment violation due to the large crack in his front... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: December 24, 2007
Received: December 28, 2007
Closed: September 2, 2009

Reason for contact: Other
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 103rd Precinct Queens
Outcome: Arrest - assault (against a PO)

Witness Officers: Danielle Duignan, Thomas Fitzgerald, Michael Kelly, Delcar Savage, David Strom, Shaun Weiler