Complaint #201609337,
November 8, 2016

Summary

On November 8, 2016 at approximately 9:45 a.m., [redacted] was in the checkout line at the Target store at 517 East 117th Street in Manhattan when she and a cashier argued about [redacted] s purchases. [redacted] swung her hand at the cashier but did not make contact with her. In response, the cashier told members of the Target security team that [redacted] had hit her. A Target security guard then called 911 and reported that an assault had taken place at the store. [redacted] tried to exit the building but was stopped by two Target security guards before she could do so. These guards followed [redacted] around the store as they waited for the police to arrive. [redacted] took out her cell phone and recorded the security guards. As she was recording, PO Lydia Figueroa and PO Rosemary Flores of the 25th Precinct stopped her (Allegations A and B). PO Figueroa asked [redacted] to put her phone down. When [redacted] continued to record, PO Figueroa grabbed the phone out of her hands to stop her from recording (Allegation C). [redacted] was handcuffed. During the handcuffing process, PO Figueroa allegedly elbowed [redacted] (Allegation D). The officers then escorted [redacted] to a detention cell inside the store while they reviewed security video. The officers reviewed the video and determined that [redacted] was not guilty of assault. Before releasing [redacted], PO Figueroa reportedly approached her while she was still handcuffed inside the detention room and told her that she would have to sign a trespass notice for Target before being released or getting her cell phone back (Allegation E). Once [redacted] agreed to sign the form, she was taken out of handcuffs and given her cell phone back. She then exited the store without incident. [redacted] was not arrested or issued a summons as a result of this incident. Read report for details.