Complaint #201409498,
August 17, 2014

Summary

On August 17, 2014, at approximately 9:56 p.m., [redacted] and his two friends, [redacted] and [redacted] were walking in the vicinity of the intersection of West 3rd Street and South 10th Avenue in Mount Vernon, New York, when a black unmarked patrol car started following them. [redacted] said that he, [redacted] and [redacted] had been walking from another area within Mount Vernon and did not pass through the Bronx. [redacted] and his friends realized that the car was following them and then started running away from it. The car was occupied by three officers from the 47th Precinct, identified via investigation as Sgt. John Anzelino, PO Juan Rodriguez and Det. Daniel Beddows. A fourth unidentified officer may have also been inside the car. The officers pursued [redacted] and [redacted] in their vehicle, and at some point, the officers exited the car and continued the chase on foot (Allegation A). [redacted] and [redacted] ran down South 10th Avenue, whereas [redacted] ran down South 9th Avenue. PO Rodriguez and Det. Beddows eventually caught up with [redacted] and [redacted]. PO Rodriguez and Det. Beddows allegedly drew their guns and pointed them at [redacted] and [redacted] (Allegation B, C, and D). PO Rodriguez also allegedly threatened [redacted] and [redacted] with the use of force, pepper-sprayed them, and kicked [redacted] in the back of the head (Allegations E, F, and G). During that time, one of the officers, whose identity could not be determined, caught up with [redacted] and allegedly drew a gun, threatened him with the use of force, frisked him, and searched him, including his backpack (Allegation H, I, J, and K). [redacted] was eventually brought back to his friends, where the officers asked them whether they had stolen anything. The officers eventually told [redacted] and [redacted] that they were suspected of placing a gun in a backyard. Read report for details.