Complaint #201503214,
April 18, 2015

Officer: Phillips, Sean
Complainant: Black Male, 48
Allegation: Force: Chokehold
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Phillips, Sean
Complainant: Black Male, 48
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Dimarzo, Christophe
Complainant: Black Male, 48
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Officer: Zabransky, David
Complainant: Black Male, 48
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Officer: Zabransky, David
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Phillips, Sean Black Male, 48 Force: Chokehold Substantiated (Charges)
Phillips, Sean Black Male, 48 Discourtesy: Word Substantiated (Charges)
Dimarzo, Christophe Black Male, 48 Discourtesy: Word Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Zabransky, David Black Male, 48 Discourtesy: Word Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Zabransky, David Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched 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.

Further details on conclusions.


Penalties

Dimarzo, Christophe
Instructions

Zabransky, David
Instructions

Phillips, Sean
Closed: Not guilty after trial-PC Approved, October 21, 2016
APU Not guilty

Summary

At 3:40 a.m. on April 18, 2015, numerous officers responded to [redacted] home at [redacted] in Queens for a radio run that [redacted] was choking his girlfriend, [redacted]. Sgt. David Zabransky authorized a forcible entry into [redacted] home (Allegation A). [redacted] refused to allow officers further into his house, and Sgt. Zabransky told him to "stop being so fucking dramatic" (Allegation B). PO Phillips then seized [redacted] by the throat with his right hand for approximately four seconds (Allegation C). [redacted] subsequently fell to the ground sustaining a fracture to his tenth left rib. While [redacted] was on the ground and as the officers handcuffed him, PO Phillips told him to "Shut the fuck up" and called [redacted] a "fucking idiot" (Allegation D). [redacted] complained that the officers had broken his ribs, and PO Dimarzo said in response, "Good" (Allegation E). [redacted] was ultimately arrested and charged with obstruction of governmental administration and resisting arrest. Read report for details.


Details

Incident: April 18, 2015
Received: April 24, 2015
Closed: September 11, 2015
Last Updated: October 2, 2025

Reason for contact: Aided case
Location: Apartment/house
In NYPD 103rd Precinct Queens
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: Christophe Casey, Stephen Loschiavo, Henry Spengenberg
Video evidence collected