Complaint #200804389,
February 29, 2008

Summary

On February 29, 2008, [redacted] patronized the Sin City strip club, located at 2520 Park Avenue in the Bronx, with his common-law wife, [redacted] During the night, he consumed several glasses of Hennessy cognac and smoked marijuana an undetermined number of times. At about 4:00 am, [redacted] and [redacted] left the club and walked to their Dodge Durango, which was parked on a nearby street. [redacted] drove and [redacted] sat in the front passenger seat. They drove to the intersection of 141st Street and St. Ann's Avenue when the car was stopped by a vehicle occupied by Sgt. John Costin, PO Christopher Crain and PO Vladimir Garcia, all assigned to the 40th Precinct (allegation A). PO Crain asked [redacted] and [redacted] to exit their vehicle, and they did so. [redacted] verbally protested, and alleged that an officer frisked her (allegation B). At some point, PO Crain told her to be quiet, or she would be handcuffed (allegation C). She was then dismissed without any further police interaction, while PO Crain frisked and searched [redacted]. PO Crain found marijuana in [redacted] pocket in the course of the search. He was arrested for [redacted]. PO Crain searched [redacted] and then searched his vehicle (allegation D). The vehicle was vouchered and impounded; officers did not release it to [redacted].
After his arrest, [redacted] was placed into the back of a marked police vehicle and transported to the 45th Precinct stationhouse to undergo chemical testing. PO Crain drove, Sgt. Costin sat in the front passenger seat, and PO Garcia sat in the back seat with [redacted]. [redacted] alleged that PO Crain was also sitting in the back seat and placed him in a chokehold (allegation E) and punched him in the face multiple times (allegation F). As this went on, PO Garcia also punched him in the face (allegation G). [redacted] alleged that the punching and the chokehold did not cause significant pain, but left bruises around both of his eyes and caused his lip to bleed. At the 45th Precinct, he refused the chemical... Read report for details.