Complaint #201603055,
April 8, 2016

Officer: Cruz, Angel
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 53
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Bermudez, Roberto
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 53
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Rivera, Jonathan
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 53
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Ramos, Eric
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 53
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Cruz, Angel Hispanic Male, 53 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Unsubstantiated
Bermudez, Roberto Hispanic Male, 53 Force: Physical force Unsubstantiated
Rivera, Jonathan Hispanic Male, 53 Force: Physical force Unsubstantiated
Ramos, Eric Hispanic Male, 53 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Unsubstantiated

Conclusion Meanings:

'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 April 8, 2016, at approximately 8:00 p.m. [redacted] was visiting a salon that he frequents, Genesis Salon, located near the intersection of White Plains Road and Britton Street in the Bronx. He spoke with his friend, [redacted] outside of the salon for approximately 20 minutes, before he was approached by two undercover officers posing as prostitutes. They asked him if he wanted to pay for sexual services. [redacted] allegedly stated that he did not want to purchase sexual services. He briefly finished his conversation with [redacted] and walked away from the salon. He was then approached by Sgt. Roberto Bermudez and PO Angel Cruz, both of the 49th Precinct, and Sgt. Bermudez allegedly pushed him face-first against a vehicle in order to handcuff him (Allegation A). PO James Rivera and PO Jonathan Rivera, also of the 49th Precinct, arrived in a prisoner van shortly after [redacted] was handcuffed. Also present were Lt. Kishon Hickman and PO Eric Ramos, also of the 49th Precinct. PO Jonathan Rivera then allegedly pushed [redacted] into the prisoner van (Allegation B). All of these officers were part of an operation called "Losing Proposition," which was designed to arrest men willing to patronize prostitutes. Lt. Hickman and PO Ramos were present as an observation team for the operation.
At approximately 11:35 p.m. [redacted] was transported to the 49th Precinct stationhouse. While in the stationhouse, he allegedly asked for PO Ramos' and PO Cruz's shield numbers, which they allegedly refused to provide (Allegations C and D). Read report for details.


Details

Incident: April 8, 2016
Received: April 11, 2016
Closed: August 2, 2016

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - bldg
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 49th Precinct Bronx
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: Kishon Hickman, James Rivera
Video evidence collected