Complaint #201703838,
May 15, 2017

Officer: Rodriguez, Robert
Complainant: Male, 36
Allegation: Offensive Language: Sexual orientation
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer: Rodriguez, Robert
Complainant: Male, 36
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Rodriguez, Robert
Complainant: Male, 36
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Bonilla, Frank
Complainant: Male, 36
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Male, 35-39
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer: Rodriguez, Robert
Complainant: Male, 36
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Melendez, Mark
Complainant: Male, 36
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Troncoso, Arnaldo
Complainant: Male, 36
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Bonilla, Frank
Complainant: Male, 36
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Rodriguez, Robert Male, 36 Offensive Language: Sexual orientation Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024
Rodriguez, Robert Male, 36 Discourtesy: Word Unsubstantiated
Rodriguez, Robert Male, 36 Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording Exonerated
Bonilla, Frank Male, 36 Discourtesy: Word Unsubstantiated
Unknown Officer Male, 35-39 Discourtesy: Word Officer(s) Unidentified
Rodriguez, Robert Male, 36 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Melendez, Mark Male, 36 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Troncoso, Arnaldo Male, 36 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Bonilla, Frank Male, 36 Force: Physical force Exonerated

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
'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 May 15, 2017, at approximately 10:12 a.m., [redacted] urinated on the sidewalk in front of 96 Suffolk Street in Manhattan. Police Officer Frank Bonilla of the Citywide Traffic Task Force stopped [redacted] and asked for his identification, which [redacted] refused to provide. PO Bonilla then allegedly said, "What the fuck, you fucking asshole, who do you think you are? (Allegation A). Sergeant Robert Rodriguez of Taxi UT, as well as Police Officer Mark Melendez and Police Officer Arnold Troncoso, both of Citywide Traffic Task Force, also approached [redacted]. Officers asked for [redacted]s ID several more times, and he continued to refuse to provide it. PO Bonilla handcuffed [redacted] and transported him to the 7th Precinct stationhouse along with PO Melendez and PO Troncoso. While in the police van, an officer allegedly told [redacted] to "Shut the fuck up!" and that it was "too fucking late" for him to get out of the situation (Allegation B). At the stationhouse, [redacted] was searched and placed in a cell. While he was in the cell, Sgt. Rodriguez approached him and stated "You're a fucking faggot and you like to take it up your ass," and "you're a piece of shit, fuck you" (Allegations C and D). Half an hour later, the officers opened the cell door and released [redacted] with a Desk Appearance Ticket (DAT). They asked [redacted] to leave the stationhouse and he refused. Sgt. Rodriguez, PO Bonilla and either PO Melendez or PO Troncoso then allegedly pushed [redacted] as they escorted him out of the stationhouse (Allegations E, F, G and H). [redacted] recorded the officers with the camera on his phone so that he could identify them later. When he put his phone in front of Sgt. Rodriguez's face, Sgt. Rodriguez allegedly grabbed [redacted]s phone and almost threw it on the floor, before giving it back to him (Allegation I). [redacted] then left the stationhouse.
[redacted] provided three cell phone videos, one of which was relevant to the investigation and is embedded below. The video shows Sgt. Rodriguez,... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: May 15, 2017
Closed: October 4, 2017
Last Updated: December 11, 2024

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - street
Location: Police building
In NYPD 7th Precinct Manhattan
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Video evidence collected