Complaint #201310099,
October 24, 2013

Summary

At approximately 12:40 p.m. on October 24, 2013, a marked police van driven by PO Patrick Thompson of the 121st Precinct followed a beige SUV from the intersection of [redacted] and [redacted] to 50 Simonson Avenue, in Staten Island, stopping the SUV at the latter location (Allegation A). A second police car, an unmarked sedan, approached the SUV from the opposite direction. The driver of the SUV was [redacted] in the front passenger seat was [redacted] and in the rear of the SUV was [redacted]. Inside the marked van with PO Thompson were PO Leonid Shatkin and PO Antonio Cimmino of the 121st Precinct and inside the unmarked car were Sgt. Mark DiBenedetto and PO Lee Maldonado, also of the 121st Precinct. PO Thompson and PO Maldonado exited their vehicles with their guns pointed at the SUV, and Sgt. DiBenedetto allegedly did so as well (Allegations B, C, and D). Multiple officers, [redacted] could not identify which ones, allegedly said to [redacted] "Get your fucking hands up," (Allegation E) and PO Maldonado allegedly said to him, "Get the fuck out of the car" (Allegation F). The occupants of the vehicle were removed from the SUV, at which point PO Thompson frisked [redacted] (Allegation G), and PO Maldonado allegedly frisked and searched [redacted] (Allegations H and I). The officers then informed the occupants that they smelled marijuana and asked them if they had any marijuana on them. PO Shatkin proceeded to frisk and search [redacted] (Allegations J and K), allegedly finding three bags of marijuana in his shoe and jacket in the process. PO Shatkin also allegedly pulled [redacted]s pants and underwear outwards and looked inside (Allegation L). Officers, [redacted] could not identify which ones, frisked and allegedly searched [redacted] (Allegations M and N), and searched the vehicle (Allegation O). [redacted] were arrested and taken back to the stationhouse while the SUV was left with [redacted] who was not arrested.
At the 121st Precinct stationhouse, Sgt. DiBenedetto authorized strip searches of... Read report for details.