Complaint #201704008,
May 18, 2017

Officer: Sotira, Joseph
Complainant: Asian Male, 36
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Sotira, Joseph
Complainant: Asian Male, 36
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Sotira, Joseph
Complainant: Asian Male, 36
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Other
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Officer: Sotira, Joseph
Complainant: Asian Male, 36
Allegation: Offensive Language: Ethnicity
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Sotira, Joseph Asian Male, 36 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Unsubstantiated
Sotira, Joseph Asian Male, 36 Force: Physical force Unsubstantiated
Sotira, Joseph Asian Male, 36 Abuse of Authority: Other Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Sotira, Joseph Asian Male, 36 Offensive Language: Ethnicity Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024

Conclusion Meanings:

'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

Sotira, Joseph
Formalized Training

Summary

On May 18, 2017, at approximately 1:30 a.m., [redacted] who rents rooms in his apartment, which is located at [redacted] in Queens, using the website Airbnb, cancelled the reservation of one of his guests, [redacted] had been speaking loudly on his phone, in violation of [redacted] s Airbnb household rules. [redacted] left the apartment, and returned at approximately 2:30 a.m., accompanied by PO Joseph Sotira and PO Ryan Blackmore of the 102nd Precinct. [redacted] exited his building and spoke with PO Sotira, who told [redacted] that he had to let [redacted] back into his apartment. [redacted] tried to explain to PO Sotira that he was allowed to cancel a guest's reservation, and that he did not have to let [redacted] back inside. PO Sotira told [redacted] that he would be arrested if he did not let [redacted] back inside (Allegation A). [redacted] started walking back towards his building, and PO Sotira kicked him in his back (Allegation B), and stated, "You Muslim, you Indian, what do you think?" (Allegation C). PO Sotira then reached his arm under [redacted] s underarm and grabbed [redacted] s shoulder with the same hand, and had [redacted] sit down in front of his building. PO Sotira then issued [redacted] a summons for disorderly conduct (Allegation D). The officers and [redacted] left the scene, and no complaint report was prepared for [redacted] Read report for details.


Details

Incident: May 18, 2017
Received: May 19, 2017
Closed: November 22, 2017
Last Updated: December 11, 2024

Reason for contact: Report-dispute
Location: Apartment/house
In NYPD 102nd Precinct Queens
Outcome: Summons - disorderly conduct

Witness Officers: Ryan Blackmore
Video evidence collected