Complaint #201412317,
December 10, 2014

Officer: Artiles, Willie
Complainant: Black Male, 52
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Alvarez, Richard
Complainant: Black Male, 52
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Artiles, Willie
Complainant: Black Male, 52
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Alvarez, Richard
Complainant: Black Male, 52
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Artiles, Willie
Complainant: Black Male, 52
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Retaliatory arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Rosario, Ramon
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 45
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Retaliatory arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Artiles, Willie Black Male, 52 Force: Physical force Substantiated (Charges)
Alvarez, Richard Black Male, 52 Force: Physical force Unfounded
Artiles, Willie Black Male, 52 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Unsubstantiated
Alvarez, Richard Black Male, 52 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Unsubstantiated
Artiles, Willie Black Male, 52 Abuse of Authority: Retaliatory arrest Substantiated (Charges)
Rosario, Ramon Hispanic Male, 45 Abuse of Authority: Retaliatory arrest Exonerated

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.
'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.
'Unsubstantiated': or 'Unable to Determine' - The alleged conduct was investigated but could not determine both that the conduct occurred and that it broke the rules.

Further details on conclusions.


Penalty

Artiles, Willie
Closed: Not guilty after trial-PC Approved, October 14, 2016
APU Not guilty

Summary

After leaving a deli in upper Manhattan, a man was approached by two officers who threw him to the ground and, according to his statement, punched him in the face. They handcuffed him and pulled him to a standing position. When he asked why he had been stopped, they asked what he had thrown to the ground, and he responded that he had not thrown anything to the ground. The officers searched the ground for the allegedly thrown object. According to the man, Detective Artiles, who was leading the search, identified himself as one officer who had executed a search warrant on the man's mother's apartment a few summers before. After the man was handcuffed and searched, and no contraband was found, he was allowed to leave. He went to the hospital where he underwent a CAT scan.
When interviewed, Detective Artiles stated that he observed the man make a hand-to-hand exchange with someone and that when Detective Artiles started to pursue the man, he threw something away. Detective Artiles acknowledged that he looked for it but did not find any contraband. Detective Artiles confirmed that he took the man to the ground and handcuffed him but stated he used no force beyond the force needed to bring the man to the ground.
The CCRB found that Detective Artiles used excessive force and abused his authority in arresting the man. It also found that he made a false official statement in his CCRB interview.
It is not clear from the interview statements what the basis of the false official statement was, but the man who was arrested testified that he went to the hospital so his medical records, which are not subject to FOIL, could have contradicted Detective Artiles's testimony.
Detective Artiles was found not guilty after a departmental trial. He was not punished by the NYPD for the incident. Read report for details.


Details

Incident: December 10, 2014
Received: December 11, 2014
Closed: July 21, 2015
Last Updated: October 2, 2025

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - street
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 24th Precinct Manhattan
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Witness Officers: Antonio Quiros
Video evidence collected