Complaint #201503550,
April 29, 2015

Officer: Simpson, Larry
Complainant: Male, 23
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Krmoyan, Vahagn
Complainant: Male, 23
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Taunton, Paul
Complainant: Male, 23
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Pierce, Kelly
Complainant: Male, 23
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Taylor, Kevin
Complainant: Male, 23
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Taunton, Paul
Complainant: Male, 23
Allegation: Force: Vehicle
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Male, 21-24
Allegation: Force: Other
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Male, 21-24
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Simpson, Larry Male, 23 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Krmoyan, Vahagn Male, 23 Force: Physical force Unsubstantiated
Taunton, Paul Male, 23 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Pierce, Kelly Male, 23 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Taylor, Kevin Male, 23 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Taunton, Paul Male, 23 Force: Vehicle Unsubstantiated
Unknown Officer Male, 21-24 Force: Other Officer(s) Unidentified
Unknown Officer Male, 21-24 Force: Physical force Officer(s) Unidentified

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
'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

This incident occurred during a demonstration on April 29, 2015, in response to the death of an individual in police custody in Baltimore. Media coverage of the demonstrations noted that over 100 individuals were arrested (BR01). [redacted]
At approximately 9:30 p.m. on April 29, 2015, [redacted] was part of a group of demonstrators who were walking south on 8th Avenue towards West 51st Street in Manhattan. [redacted], along with other demonstrators, was walking in the street. Officers instructed the demonstrators to get on the sidewalk. [redacted] continued to walk in the street. [redacted] alleged that, as he continued walking down 8th Avenue, a police scooter, driven by an officer identified via the investigation as Sgt. Paul Taunton of Patrol Borough Manhattan South, drove up from behind him and stopped parallel to him, striking [redacted] on the left forearm with the right rearview mirror of the scooter (Allegation A). Sgt. Taunton instructed [redacted] to get on the sidewalk. [redacted] told Sgt. Taunton to stop bumping him with his scooter and continued walking down 8th Avenue. [redacted] alleged that this pattern repeated approximately six more times between West 52nd Street and West 51st Street: [redacted] would continue walking, and the scooter would drive alongside him and stop sharply, striking him in the arm with the rearview mirror (within Allegation A).
When [redacted] reached the northwest corner of the intersection of 8th Avenue and West 51st Street, the rearview mirror of the scooter struck him for the last time. [redacted] turned to face Sgt. Taunton, balled his fists, and said, "Stop bumping me with your scooter, because if you don't, I have the right to knock you off of it." At this point, Captain Kevin Taylor of Special Operations Division-Strategic Response Group allegedly grabbed the back of [redacted]'s neck (Allegation B) and instructed officers to arrest him. Captain Taylor's hand was on the back of [redacted]'s neck for approximately 30 seconds and did not restrict his breathing.... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: April 29, 2015
Received: May 5, 2015
Closed: December 14, 2015

Reason for contact: Demonstration/protest
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD Midtown North Precinct Manhattan
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: Salvatore Accardi, Peter Chambertides, Daniel Clark, Joseph Gallagher, Vincent Gallo, Tyler Hendrick, Marcus Jenkins, Daniel Koski, Matthew Moon, Stephen Oleary, Steven Schilling, James Stewart, Angelo Velez, Vince Wu, Sam Zheng
Video evidence collected