Complaint #201703516,
April 27, 2017

Summary

On April 27, 2017, at approximately 9:30 p.m. [redacted] was driving alone on Court Street in Brooklyn when he got into a road dispute with the driver of another car that contained three passengers. [redacted] pulled over at the intersection of Court Street and Warren Street and exited his car to argue with the driver and passengers of another car, all of whom had also pulled over and exited their car. The driver pushed [redacted] repeatedly and a passenger took [redacted] s keys out of his ignition. [redacted] called 911 to report that the other driver was driving drunk, that he hit him with his car, and hit him with his hand; five other people in the vicinity called 911, and officers were dispatched to the location to respond to an assault in progress (Board Review 05). Sergeant Elio Ponzo of the 76th Precinct and Police Officer Richard Lynn arrived shortly after. [redacted] "went crazy" gesticulating and began to describe to Sgt. Ponzo what the driver did to him. Sgt. Ponzo took hold of [redacted] Is wrists, pulled his arms down, squeezed his wrists for about a minute, and told him to calm down. Sgt. Ponzo and PO Lynn spoke with both parties for a total of about ten minutes, determined no assault took place, and asked everyone to disperse. [redacted] protested the officers' decision, and Sgt. Ponzo asked him if he wanted him to "arrest [him and the occupants of the other car] right now" (Allegation A). The officers left the scene.
After calling 911 to file a complaint against the officers and leaving a voicemail message with IAB, [redacted] drove to the 76th Precinct stationhouse, went inside, and asked a police administrative aide to speak with the highest ranking officer there. Sgt. Ponzo interrupted and they argued with each other. Lieutenant Nicholas Corrado led [redacted] out of the stationhouse. [redacted] asked Lt. Corrado whether he could file a complaint inside and Lt. Corrado told him he could not (Allegation B). Read report for details.