Complaint #201704889,
May 18, 2017

Officer: Nicoletti, Thomas
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 24
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Rodriguez, Robert
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 24
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Officer: Rodriguez, Robert
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Officer: Nicoletti, Thomas
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Rodriguez, Robert
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 24
Allegation: Force: Gun Pointed
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Not guilty
Officer: Rodriguez, Robert
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Seizure of property
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Officer: Rodriguez, Robert
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Not guilty
Officer: Rodriguez, Robert
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of summons
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Not guilty
Officer: Rodriguez, Robert
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat to damage/seize property
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Nicoletti, Thomas
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Other
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Rodriguez, Robert
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 24
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Other
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Officer: Rodriguez, Robert
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 23
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Not guilty
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Nicoletti, Thomas Hispanic Male, 24 Discourtesy: Word Substantiated (Charges)
Rodriguez, Robert Hispanic Male, 24 Discourtesy: Word Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Rodriguez, Robert Hispanic Male, 24 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Nicoletti, Thomas Hispanic Male, 24 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Substantiated (Charges)
Rodriguez, Robert Hispanic Male, 24 Force: Gun Pointed Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Not guilty
Rodriguez, Robert Hispanic Male, 24 Abuse of Authority: Seizure of property Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Rodriguez, Robert Hispanic Male, 24 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Not guilty
Rodriguez, Robert Hispanic Male, 24 Abuse of Authority: Threat of summons Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Not guilty
Rodriguez, Robert Hispanic Male, 24 Abuse of Authority: Threat to damage/seize property Unsubstantiated
Nicoletti, Thomas Hispanic Male, 24 Abuse of Authority: Other Substantiated (Charges)
Rodriguez, Robert Hispanic Male, 24 Abuse of Authority: Other Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Guilty
Rodriguez, Robert Hispanic Male, 23 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Disposition: APU Not guilty

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.


Penalties

Nicoletti, Thomas
Closed: Guilty after trial-PC Approved, November 26, 2019
APU Guilty
Forfeit vacation 20 days

Rodriguez, Robert
Closed: Guilty after trial-PC Approved, November 26, 2019
Forfeit vacation 25 days

Summary

On May 18, 2017, [redacted] was driving his car on the Bruckner Expressway with [redacted] in the passenger seat. PO Robert Rodriguez and PO Thomas Nicoletti pulled over [redacted] for street racing and multiple VTL violations. PO Rodriguez pointed his gun at [redacted] and [redacted] and threatened to shoot them (Allegation A: Force, [redacted]) PO Nicoletti told PO Rodriguez to shoot them in the back of the head if they got out of control (Allegation C: Abuse of authority, [redacted]). PO Rodriguez and PO Nicoletti spoke discourteously to [redacted] and [redacted] (Allegations D and E: Discourtesy, [redacted]). PO Rodriguez entered the back seat of [redacted]'s vehicle (Allegation F: Abuse of authority, substantiated). PO Rodriguez then directed [redacted] to drive off of the highway while PO Nicoletti followed in the patrol car (Allegations G and H: Abuse of authority, [redacted]). PO Rodriguez threatened to follow [redacted] in the future until he could give him summonses (Allegation I: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). [redacted] requested PO Rodriguez's name and PO Rodriguez failed to provide it (Allegation J: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). PO Rodriguez told [redacted] to call a tow truck as he was not permitted to have his car anymore (Allegation K: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). PO Rodriguez told the tow truck driver to take [redacted]'s vehicle and to do whatever he wanted with it, and suggested ways to damage it (Allegation L: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]).
The officers did not arrest [redacted] or [redacted] but issued [redacted] ten summonses. Read report for details.


Details

Incident: May 18, 2017
Received: June 15, 2017
Closed: February 1, 2018
Last Updated: October 2, 2025

Reason for contact: Other violation of VTL
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 45th Precinct Bronx
Outcome: Other VTL violation summons issued

Video evidence collected