Complaint #201503326,
April 28, 2015

Officer: Capellan, Gary
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 53
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Capellan, Gary
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 53
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Capellan, Gary
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 53
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Capellan, Gary
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 53
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Unsubstantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Capellan, Gary
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 53
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Capellan, Gary
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 53
Allegation: Force: Other
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 50-54
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer: Capellan, Gary
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 53
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Unsubstantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Board Conclusion
Capellan, Gary Hispanic Male, 53 Abuse of Authority: Stop Exonerated
Capellan, Gary Hispanic Male, 53 Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Exonerated
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
Capellan, Gary Hispanic Male, 53 Discourtesy: Word Unsubstantiated
Capellan, Gary Hispanic Male, 53 Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Unsubstantiated
Capellan, Gary Hispanic Male, 53 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Unsubstantiated
Capellan, Gary Hispanic Male, 53 Force: Other Unsubstantiated
Unknown Officer Hispanic Male, 50-54 Force: Physical force Officer(s) Unidentified
Capellan, Gary Hispanic Male, 53 Force: Physical force Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: 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.
'Officer(s) Unidentified': Unable to identify the officers who committed the alleged misconduct
'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

Capellan, Gary
Command Discipline - A

Summary

This case was delayed due to difficulties with officer identification. The officer descriptions that [redacted] provided (uniformed) were inconsistent with the officers' assignment (SNEU is generally in plainclothes). Additionally, there was an overall lack of documentation of the stop excepting PO Capellan's memo book entry. There was no stop and frisk report, arrest, summons, SPRINT, or warrant check.
On April 28, 2015 at approximately 11:20 am, PO Adam Acosta and PO Carlos Pineda were assigned to a 46th Precinct Street Narcotics Enforcement Unit observation post on the roof of 125 Mt. Hope Place in the Bronx. Either PO Acosta or PO Pineda relayed a description of a male Hispanic wearing a green hoodie and a green and yellow jacket walking east on 176th Street to the chase team saying that he was involved in a hand-to-hand drug transaction. PO Gary Capellan, PO Rafael Guzman, and PO Rafael Perdomo also of the 46th Precinct were assigned to the chase team.
[redacted] was walking on 176th Street between Clay Avenue and Monroe Avenue wearing a lined gray and green hoodie, a green long sleeved shirt, a green hat with the brim turned backwards, a small pouch hanging diagonally under his shirt, a black and gray winter vest, and green glasses when PO Capellan stopped him (Allegation A). PO Capellan allegedly placed [redacted] in a bear hug and [redacted] threw his elbows back a little in an attempt to get PO Capellan off him but he was unable to move much. [redacted] had trouble breathing and told PO Capellan "why are you grabbing me so hard, I'm starting not to breathe" (Allegation B). PO Guzman pulled at [redacted]'s left wrist. None of the police officers identified themselves as such but by this point [redacted] understood that they were members of the NYPD because they were dressed in uniform. [redacted] asked why PO Guzman was pulling on his hand and PO Capellan allegedly said "shut the fuck up" (Allegation C).
PO Capellan allegedly slammed [redacted] against a wall, which caused a bruise to his head and his... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: April 28, 2015
Closed: January 7, 2016

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - street
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 46th Precinct Bronx
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Witness Officers: Adam Acosta, Ezequiel Burgos, Kelvin Garcia, Cesar Gomez, Rafael Guzman, Rafael Perdomo, Carlos Pineda