Complaint #201502380,
March 15, 2015

Officer: Dias, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 32
Allegation: Offensive Language: Race
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer: Dias, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 32
Allegation: Force: Gun Pointed
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Dias, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 25
Allegation: Force: Pepper spray
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Dias, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 32
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Dias, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 32
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Dias, Matthew Black Male, 32 Offensive Language: Race Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024
Dias, Matthew Black Male, 32 Force: Gun Pointed Exonerated
Dias, Matthew Black Male, 25 Force: Pepper spray Exonerated
Dias, Matthew Black Male, 32 Discourtesy: Word Unsubstantiated
Dias, Matthew Black Male, 32 Abuse of Authority: Property damaged 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.
'Substantiated': The misconduct occurred and it violated the rules. The NYPD has discretion over what, if any, discipline is imposed.
'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

Dias, Matthew
Closed: Not guilty after trial-PC Approved, March 20, 2017
APU Not guilty

Summary

On March 15, 2015, [redacted] in Far Rockaway, New York. He was driving a fifteen passenger, five-row passenger van with tinted side and rear windows. [redacted] picked up eleven passengers on Mott Avenue and then ran a red light at the intersection of Mott Avenue and Beach 21st Street. PO Matthew Dias and PO Nicholas Velotti of the 101st Precinct observed the infraction from their RMP and conducted a vehicle stop. PO Dias issued [redacted] a summons. [redacted] subsequently continued on Mott Avenue and then turned South onto Beach 20th Street, running a second red light. He came to a stop at the at a stop sign at the intersection of Beach 20th Street and Plainview Avenue. PO Dias and PO Velotti's RMP pulled up behind him. PO Dias exited the vehicle and, as [redacted] pulled away from the intersection, PO Dias struck the rear passenger's side window of [redacted]'s vehicle with his baton, shattering it (Allegation A). [redacted] pulled the van over on Plainview Avenue. PO Dias approached the van's driver's side with his gun drawn and pointed it at [redacted] (Allegation B). He allegedly said, "Get your black ass out of the van" (Allegation C). [redacted] exited the van and PO Dias placed him in handcuffs. As PO Dias walked [redacted] to the RMP, parked behind the van, [redacted] a passenger in the van, approached PO Dias and [redacted] PO Dias sprayed [redacted] in the face with pepper spray (Allegation D). PO Dias placed [redacted] in the rear of the RMP, and [redacted] asked PO Dias if he was being arrested because he was black. PO Dias allegedly replied, "Don't put that racist shit on me" (Allegation E). [redacted] was transported to the 101st Precinct stationhouse for processing[redacted]
[redacted] a passenger in the van, recorded a video of the incident with her cell phone; [redacted]. Read report for details.


Details

Incident: March 15, 2015
Received: March 31, 2015
Closed: September 16, 2015
Last Updated: October 2, 2025

Reason for contact: Other violation of VTL
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 101st Precinct Queens
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: Nicholas Velotti
Video evidence collected