Complaint #201509205,
October 27, 2015

Officer: Castaldo, Daniel
Complainant: Black Male, 57
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Castaldo, Daniel Black Male, 57 Force: Physical force Substantiated (Charges)

Conclusion Meanings:

'Substantiated': The misconduct occurred and it violated the rules. The NYPD has discretion over what, if any, discipline is imposed.

Further details on conclusions.


Penalty

Castaldo, Daniel
Closed: Not guilty after trial-PC Approved, October 25, 2017
APU Not guilty

Summary

On October 27, 2016, at approximately 2:35 p.m., [redacted] were within the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in Staten Island after having exited the ferry coming from Manhattan. [redacted] was on her way to the train station, while [redacted] was on his way towards the exit doors leading to the Staten Island Yankees stadium. [redacted] had attended a rally for a person who was wrongfully shot by the police. He recalled carrying a flyer from the rally, but could not recall what he was wearing or if he was carrying anything else.
Before reaching the exit doors, [redacted] observed a uniformed officer, identified by the investigation as PO Daniel Castaldo of Patrol Borough Staten Island, near the exit doors by a pillar. [redacted] recognized PO Castaldo from an encounter, a few months back, the date of which he could not recall. During the encounter, [redacted] had been wearing a kufi and unprovoked, PO Castaldo had allegedly called [redacted] a "raghead." On this date, PO Castaldo was standing with a group of officers identified by the investigation as PO Thomas Quevado and PO Eric Betzold, also of Patrol Borough Staten Island. Although the terminal was crowded, [redacted] had a clear line of sight. Ten feet ahead of her, she also observed [redacted] whom she did not know, and a group of uniformed officers standing together near him.
[redacted] observed [redacted] place his index finger in the air and say in a calm and nonthreatening voice to one of the officers, "You sir, are a dipstick." [redacted] did not know what had preceded this, and did not hear him use profanity or make any other comments prior to this or after this. [redacted] provided a different account of the circumstances leading up to his interaction with the officers: PO Castaldo stared at [redacted] as if he "owed PO Castaldo money." [redacted] continued walking and when he passed PO Castaldo, [redacted] from 7 feet away, called PO Castaldo "an asshole." [redacted] said nothing else and continued walking. In response, PO Castaldo asked [redacted]... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: October 27, 2015
Closed: June 1, 2016
Last Updated: October 2, 2025

Reason for contact: C/V intervened on behalf of/observed encounter w/3rd party
Location: Public space/building
In NYPD 120th Precinct Staten Island
Outcome: Summons - disorderly conduct

Witness Officers: Eric Betzold, Thomas Quevedo
Video evidence collected