Complaint #201409178,
August 22, 2014

Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 15-17
Allegation: Force: Chokehold
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer: Stefopoulos, Nikolaos
Complainant: Black Male, 16
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Stefopoulos, Nikolaos
Complainant: Black Male, 16
Allegation: Force: Hit against inanimate object
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 15-17
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 15-17
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer: Stefopoulos, Nikolaos
Complainant: Black Male, 16
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Stefopoulos, Nikolaos
Complainant: Black Male, 16
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Reich, Mathew
Complainant: Black Male, 16
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Unknown Officer Black Male, 15-17 Force: Chokehold Officer(s) Unidentified
Stefopoulos, Nikolaos Black Male, 16 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Stefopoulos, Nikolaos Black Male, 16 Force: Hit against inanimate object Substantiated (Charges)
Unknown Officer Black Male, 15-17 Force: Physical force Unfounded
Unknown Officer Black Male, 15-17 Force: Physical force Officer(s) Unidentified
Stefopoulos, Nikolaos Black Male, 16 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Substantiated (Charges)
Stefopoulos, Nikolaos Black Male, 16 Discourtesy: Word Substantiated (Charges)
Reich, Mathew Black Male, 16 Force: Physical force Substantiated (Charges)

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
'Substantiated': The misconduct occurred and it violated the rules. The NYPD has discretion over what, if any, discipline is imposed.
'Unfounded': Evidence suggests that the event or alleged conduct did not occur.

Further details on conclusions.


Penalties

Reich, Mathew
Closed: Not guilty after trial-PC Approved, December 22, 2016
APU Not guilty

Stefopoulos, Nikolaos
Closed: Not guilty after trial-PC Approved, December 22, 2016
APU Not guilty

Summary

On August 22, 2014, at approximately 9:18pm, [redacted] was walking to [redacted] in Staten Island when he saw two bags of marijuana on the ground. On the next block, [redacted] encountered a male – later determined to be an undercover police officer – who asked him whether he had any marijuana. [redacted] returned to the bags he had seen, picked them up, and walked back to conduct a sale with the individual.
[redacted] then entered [redacted] when Det. Nikolaos Stefopoulos and Det. Dmitry Shery from Narcotics Borough Staten Island, having received a communication in regards to the sale, approached [redacted] and informed him that he was under arrest. Det. Stefopoulos said, "Open your fucking hand before I crush you!"(Allegation A). An officer then allegedly grabbed [redacted] by the arm and punched him two or three times on the left side of his face before multiple officers slammed him to the ground (Allegation B).
Once on the ground, an officer allegedly placed his knee on [redacted]'s back while a different officer grabbed the front of [redacted]'s neck with both hands, applying pressure for three seconds (Allegations C and D). During the struggle, Det. Matthew Reich punched [redacted] in the face four or more five times (Allegation E). Det. Nikolaos Stefopoulos kicked and kneed [redacted] in the stomach and struck [redacted]'s back with his palm (Allegation F). Det. Stefopoulos said to [redacted] "So why're you fighting the fucking cops, you idiot?"(Allegation G). Det. Stefopoulos also lifted [redacted] into the air and forced him to the ground (Allegation H). After [redacted] was handcuffed, Det. Stefopoulos said to [redacted] "Shut the fuck up dude, you're an idiot!"(Allegation G). Read report for details.


Details

Incident: August 22, 2014
Received: September 6, 2014
Closed: October 28, 2015
Last Updated: October 2, 2025

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - street
Location: Apartment/house
Outcome: Arrest - resisting arrest

Witness Officers: Stacy Bowen, Steven Marshall, Clyde Moyer, John Ryan, Mark Scarlatelli, Dmitriy Shery, Steven Sposito
Video evidence collected