Complaint #201502958,
April 18, 2015

Officer: Gomez, Arturo
Complainant: Black Male, 48
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Vanbrakle, Miguel
Complainant: Black Male, 48
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Gomez, Arturo
Complainant: Black Male, 48
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Vanbrakle, Miguel
Complainant: Black Male, 48
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Gomez, Arturo Black Male, 48 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Vanbrakle, Miguel Black Male, 48 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Gomez, Arturo Black Male, 48 Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Unsubstantiated
Vanbrakle, Miguel Black Male, 48 Discourtesy: Word Unsubstantiated

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.
'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.


Summary

On April 19, 2015, at approximately 8:10 p.m., [redacted] was driving his Ford Mustang convertible Utica Avenue in Brooklyn when he was pulled over by PO Arturo Gomez and PO Miguel Van Brakle between Snyder Avenue and Church Street. PO Gomez stood at the driver's side door and asked for [redacted] for his identification. [redacted] asked PO Gomez what he had been pulled over for; in response PO Croker asked [redacted] for his identification and informed him if he did not produce identification he would be removed from his car. [redacted] responded by asking PO Gomez to request a supervisor to the scene. PO Van Brakle said to [redacted] "Who the fuck do you think you are requesting a fucking supervisor?" (Allegation A). Then, PO Gomez and PO Van Brakle entered [redacted]'s vehicle to pull him out and place him in handcuffs. [redacted] alleged he was thrown against the hood of the police car which caused him to sustain scratches to his shins (Allegations B and C) (Board Review 01). Lt. Timothy Edwards and other officers had responded to the scene. Lt. Edwards spoke with [redacted] and asked him to provide his identification. When [redacted] did not provide his identification, Lt. Edwards instructed officers to bring him back to the 67th Precinct stationhouse. [redacted] was brought over to the side of the police vehicle where his head was pushed into the police car by PO Van Brakle as another officer grabbed his legs and flung them into the car. PO Van Brakle said to [redacted] "Get the fuck in the car. Who the fuck do you think you are?" (Allegation A continued). PO Gomez drove [redacted]'s Mustang back to the 67th Precinct stationhouse. After two hours in the stationhouse holding cell, [redacted] was released with four summonses two for window tints, one for disorderly conduct, and another for a loud exhaust (Board Review 02). [redacted] observed a large scratch on his vehicle that was not there prior to PO Gomez driving it (Allegation D). Read report for details.


Details

Incident: April 18, 2015
Received: April 19, 2015
Closed: August 3, 2015

Reason for contact: Other violation of VTL
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 67th Precinct Brooklyn
Outcome: Summons - disorderly conduct

Witness Officers: Timothy Edwards