Complaint #201602490,
March 10, 2016

Summary

On March 10, 2016, at 4:02 pm, [redacted] and [redacted] were walking east on Delancey Street in Manhattan, after spending the afternoon shopping in the area. As [redacted] and [redacted] crossed the intersection of Delancey and Forsyth Streets, they were both suddenly bear-hugged from behind by two plainclothes officers, identified by the investigation as Sgt. Frederic Ortiz and PO Ryan Lathrop of Patrol Borough Manhattan South's Grand Larceny Detail (Allegations A, B, C, D). [redacted] (by Sgt. Ortiz) and [redacted] (by PO Lathrop) were then moved to the edge of the sidewalk, where they were pushed up against a parked vehicle, chest-forward, still bear-hugged by the officers (Allegations C, D). Upon making contact with the vehicle, Sgt. Ortiz modified his hold: he allegedly placed his forearm against [redacted] Is lower neck, applied pressure, and constricted his breathing (Allegation E). At around this time, two other plainclothes officers, identified by the investigation PO John Antoniades and PO Robinson Martinez (also of Grand Larceny), arrived on the scene. PO Antoniades and Sgt. Ortiz then jointly rear-cuffed [redacted] who was still pressed against the vehicle, and [redacted] was also handcuffed by officers. When [redacted] asked if the handcuffs could be loosened, PO Antoniades allegedly tightened their cuffs intentionally (Allegation F). An officer also tightened [redacted] s cuffs when he requested that they be loosened (Allegation G). During this time, officers allegedly told both [redacted] and [redacted] to "shut the fuck up." (Allegations H, I). An officer then allegedly frisked and searched [redacted] Is pants pockets (Allegations J, K). At this point, PO Martinez approached [redacted] looked at him, and told Sgt. Ortiz "that's not them." Shortly thereafter, Sgt. Ortiz came over to [redacted] still held against the vehicle, and allegedly frisked his pants pockets (Allegation L). Sgt. Ortiz then explained to [redacted] that they had been mistaken for criminal suspects, because they "fit the... Read report for details.