Complaint #201601919,
March 1, 2016

Officer: Sinatra, Mark
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 25
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Sinatra, Mark
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 25
Allegation: Offensive Language: Disability
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Sinatra, Mark Hispanic Male, 25 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Unsubstantiated
Unknown Officer Hispanic Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Exonerated
Sinatra, Mark Hispanic Male, 25 Offensive Language: Disability Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024

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 March 1, 2016, at approximately 2:20 p.m., Sergeant Mark Sinatra, Detective Victor Rosario, Detective Daniel Ludemann, and Police Officer Michael Russo of Narcotics Borough Queens South allegedly observed [redacted] commit a traffic violation and proceeded to stop the vehicle in which [redacted] was driving and [redacted] was a passenger in (Allegation A). Upon the officers' approach to [redacted] vehicle, Sgt. Sinatra and Det. Rosario observed a clear plastic bag containing marijuana in plain view in the center console cup holder. [redacted] was asked to provide his driver's license and vehicle registration, which he did not possess at the time. In response, the officers directed [redacted] and [redacted] to exit the vehicle. Once [redacted] exited the driver's side door, officers allegedly pushed him against his vehicle and Det. Ludemann handcuffed him. [redacted] suffered a panic attack and was loudly yelling for help. Det. Ludemann frisked and searched him and officers allegedly pulled [redacted] to the rear of his vehicle. Simultaneously, officers also frisked and searched [redacted].
The officers searched inside [redacted] vehicle and recovered one clear plastic bag of marijuana from the center console (Allegation B). Sometime thereafter, [redacted] aunt, [redacted] walked to the incident location from her home several block away. Sgt. Sinatra informed [redacted] about what had transpired and discussed [redacted] wellbeing due to the fact that [redacted] body was shaking from his panic attack. During their conversation, Sgt. Sinatra allegedly asked [redacted] if [redacted] was "retarded" or had mental issues (Allegation C).
Once [redacted] was calm, his handcuffs were removed. Since the officers did not have any summonses in their possession at the time of the incident, Sgt. Sinatra requested for an additional unit to respond to the incident location. After some time, using summonses that were distributed from the responding officers from the 103rd Precinct, Det. Rosario issued summonses to [redacted]... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: March 1, 2016
Received: March 7, 2016
Closed: July 6, 2016
Last Updated: December 11, 2024

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - auto
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 103rd Precinct Queens
Outcome: Summons - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: Daniel Ludemann, Victor Rosario, Michael Russo