Complaint #201412022,
November 18, 2014

Summary

At approximately 7:30 p.m. on November 18, 2014, [redacted] and [redacted] were riding in a tow truck near the intersection Grissom Avenue and Rockland Avenue, in Staten Island. The light was yellow but turned red when [redacted] who was driving, went through the intersection. An unmarked police van flashed its lights and [redacted] pulled over. Two plainclothes officers, identified by the investigation as Det. Clyde Moyer and Det. Matthew Reich of Narcotics Borough Staten Island, exited the van and told [redacted] and [redacted] to get out of their vehicle (Allegations A and B). Det. Moyer grabbed [redacted] by his shoulders as he got onto the street and leaned him against the truck. The sleeve of [redacted] jacket caught against the side of the truck and ripped. Det. Moyer then told [redacted] to raise his hands above his head. [redacted] complied and Det. Moyer put his hands inside [redacted] pants and jacket pockets, removing several items (Allegation C). At the same time, Det. Reich put his hands inside [redacted] pockets and removed multiple objects (Allegation D). Det. Reich then went inside the rear seat of [redacted] truck and moved a number of items (Allegation E). Det. Moyer found a prescription drug bottle in [redacted] pocket and said that he would be arrested for possession of narcotics. [redacted] told the officers that he had documentation for these drugs, but the officers did not respond to these comments. Det. Moyer and Det. Reich both called [redacted] "an asshole" and "a fuck up" during this conversation (Allegations F and G). [redacted] was then handcuffed and taken to the 120th Precinct stationhouse, where Det. Moyer and Det. Reich again both referred to him as "an asshole" (Allegations F and G). [redacted] was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and released the following day (Board Review 03). [redacted] statement Board Review 04). Read report for details.