Complaint #201702920,
February 1, 2017

Officer: Clacken, Duvaughn
Complainant: Black Male, 27
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Clacken, Duvaughn
Complainant: Black Male, 27
Allegation: Force: Nonlethal restraining device
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Clacken, Duvaughn
Complainant: Black Male, 27
Allegation: Force: Other blunt instrument as a club
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Clacken, Duvaughn Black Male, 27 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Unfounded
Clacken, Duvaughn Black Male, 27 Force: Nonlethal restraining device Exonerated
Clacken, Duvaughn Black Male, 27 Force: Other blunt instrument as a club 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.
'Unfounded': Evidence suggests that the event or alleged conduct did not occur.
'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 February 1, 2017, at approximately 12:15 p.m., police were called to [redacted] in Queens, because [redacted] a resident of this facility, was behaving in a violent manner. An unidentified staff member opened the door to [redacted]s apartment (Apt. 210) for the officers with a master key. Sgt. Duvaughn Clacken of the 105th Precinct entered [redacted]s bedroom as [redacted] was in his bed attempting to sleep. Immediately upon entering the room, Sgt. Clacken allegedly struck the right side of [redacted]s skull with his Taser twice in rapid succession (Allegation A). Sgt. Clacken ordered [redacted] to go to the hallway of the residence and he complied. [redacted] allegedly asked the officers to allow him to put on a pair of pants because his loose-fitting shorts were falling down, and he was allegedly holding them up at the waist with his hands. Sgt. Clacken fired his Taser darts, which struck [redacted] in his right thigh (Allegation B). [redacted] fell to the floor, and Sgt. Clacken allegedly continued to Tase him while he was on the floor (Allegation B cont'd). [redacted] was then handcuffed and escorted out of the building. As he was walking [redacted] to an ambulance, Sgt. Clacken allegedly told [redacted] that he would make sure the Taser hurt more next time (Allegation C). [redacted] was transported via ambulance to [redacted] where the Taser darts were surgically removed. [redacted] was not arrested or summonsed. Read report for details.


Details

Incident: February 1, 2017
Received: April 15, 2017
Closed: September 13, 2017

Reason for contact: EDP aided case
Location: Apartment/house
In NYPD 105th Precinct Queens
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Witness Officers: Heather Busch, Ralph Clement, Nicholas Kelleher, Christophe Makastchian, Daniel Mcgovern, Lisa Ruoff, Kristen Santoro