Complaint #201701370,
February 15, 2017

Officer: Chen, Nanhao
Complainant: Black Male, 24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Chen, Nanhao
Complainant: Black Male, 67
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Chen, Nanhao
Complainant: Black Male, 24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 21-24
Allegation: Offensive Language: Race
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer: Chen, Nanhao
Complainant: Black Male, 19
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Chen, Nanhao
Complainant: Black Male, 38
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Chen, Nanhao Black Male, 24 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Chen, Nanhao Black Male, 67 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Exonerated
Chen, Nanhao Black Male, 24 Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Unknown Officer Black Male, 21-24 Offensive Language: Race Officer(s) Unidentified
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024
Chen, Nanhao Black Male, 19 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Unsubstantiated
Chen, Nanhao Black Male, 38 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Unsubstantiated

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.
'Officer(s) Unidentified': Unable to identify the officers who committed the alleged misconduct
'Substantiated': The misconduct occurred and it violated the rules. The NYPD has discretion over what, if any, discipline is imposed.
'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.


Penalty

Chen, Nanhao
Command Discipline - B

Summary

On February 15, 2017, at approximately 7:15 p.m., [redacted] was operating a vehicle containing [redacted] and [redacted] in the vicinity of West 146th Street and Lenox Avenue, in Manhattan. Their vehicle was stopped by Lieutenant Nanhao Chen and PO David Tobar of the 32nd Precinct (Allegation A). Upon running [redacted]s license, it was revealed that his license was suspended and he was arrested as a result. During the encounter, Lieutenant Chen allegedly threatened to arrest [redacted] and [redacted] (Allegations B and C). [redacted] attempted to video record the arrest of [redacted] on his cell phone, but Lieutenant Chen allegedly instructed him to stop and threatened him with arrest if he continued to record (Allegation D and Allegation E). Upon observing that additional officers were arriving in marked vehicles, unmarked vehicles, and a marked van, [redacted] asked the officers why they were bringing a "paddy wagon" to the incident. An unidentified officer allegedly responded that the vehicle was an "official police vehicle, not a paddy wagon," and referred to [redacted] as "boy" (Allegation F). Aside from [redacted]s arrest for [redacted] no other civilians were arrested or issued a summons.
This case surpassed the 90th day benchmark by approximately two months as a result of the hurdles associated with obtaining five sworn civilian testimonies and extensive efforts made to identify the subject officer in Allegation F. Read report for details.


Details

Incident: February 15, 2017
Received: February 21, 2017
Closed: October 16, 2017
Last Updated: December 11, 2024

Reason for contact: Moving violation
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 32nd Precinct Manhattan
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: David Tobar
Video evidence collected