Complaint #201609709,
November 9, 2016

Officer: Sepulveda, Katherine
Complainant: Black Male, 27
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Lvl Instructions)
Officer: Kovalenko, Aleksandr
Complainant: Black Male, 27
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Sepulveda, Katherine Black Male, 27 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Substantiated (Command Lvl Instructions)
Kovalenko, Aleksandr Black Male, 27 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Substantiated (Formalized Training)

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.


Penalties

Kovalenko, Aleksandr
Formalized Training

Sepulveda, Katherine
Formalized Training

Summary

On November 9, 2016, at approximately 6:15 p.m., Police Officer Katherine Sepulveda and Sergeant Aleksandr Kovalenko of the 47th Precinct pulled [redacted] over at East 218th Street and Bronxwood Avenue in the Bronx for a defective driver's side headlight. While he was looking for his registration, [redacted] argued with the officers about whether he had to put the passenger window down in addition to the driver's side window. Sgt. Kovalenko walked from the passenger side to the driver's side, opened the driver's side door, and ordered [redacted] to step out of the car. When he failed to comply, Sgt. Kovalenko took out his Taser and told [redacted] that he would tase him (allegation A). [redacted] stepped out of the car and then PO Sepulveda entered the car, first through the driver's door, then the front passenger door, then the rear passenger door (allegation B). After about ten to fifteen minutes, PO Sepulveda exited the car and told [redacted] he could get back in the car. [redacted] called his mother, [redacted] and asked her to come; she arrived about fifteen minutes later and spoke with the officers about what happened, then the officers gave [redacted] the summons and left.
[redacted] recorded a video of the incident on his cell phone while he was inside the car. The video is sequential but [redacted] could only send it in three parts. It primarily captures audio and only captures a portion of the incident when [redacted] was inside the car. Sgt. Kovalenko can be heard threatening to use his Taser on [redacted]. Read report for details.


Details

Incident: November 9, 2016
Received: November 22, 2016
Closed: February 24, 2017

Reason for contact: Other violation of VTL
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 47th Precinct Bronx
Outcome: Other VTL violation summons issued

Video evidence collected