Complaint #201705154,
June 18, 2017

Officer: Ortega, Richard
Complainant: Black Male, 19
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Modesto, Fabian
Complainant: Black Male, 19
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Christoforatos, Blaise
Complainant: Black Male, 19
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Tibbets, Cassidy
Complainant: Female, 18
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Modesto, Fabian
Complainant: Black Male, 19
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Modesto, Fabian
Complainant: Female
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Ortega, Richard
Complainant: Male, 45
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Unavailable
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Ortega, Richard Black Male, 19 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Modesto, Fabian Black Male, 19 Force: Physical force Unsubstantiated
Christoforatos, Blaise Black Male, 19 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Tibbets, Cassidy Female, 18 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Exonerated
Modesto, Fabian Black Male, 19 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Modesto, Fabian Female Discourtesy: Word Exonerated
Ortega, Richard Male, 45 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Alleged Victim Unavailable

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.
'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 June 19, 2017, at approximately 7:38 p.m., [redacted]'s friend, [redacted] was involved in a physical fight with an unidentified female at Rogers Avenue and Martense Street in Brooklyn. [redacted] and his other friends, [redacted] and [redacted] observed and intervened in the fight along with approximately 30 other unidentified civilians. PO Richard Ortega, PO Fabian Modesto, PO Blaise Christoforatos, Det. Cassidy Tibbets, and PO Jasmine Sweat of the 67th Precinct responded to the scene. PO Modesto approached [redacted] told him to leave the scene, and pushed him, causing him to fall on his arms and back on the street (Allegation A). [redacted] stood up from the ground, and PO Modesto and PO Ortega grabbed his arms to place him in handcuffs. PO Christoforatos allegedly punched [redacted] in the right side of his ribs and pushed him to the ground (Allegation B). PO Ortega and PO Modesto placed [redacted] in handcuffs. PO Ortega and PO Modesto then pushed [redacted] against a parked civilian vehicle, pushed his head against a marked police vehicle, and lifted his handcuffed arms in in the air, causing pain to his shoulders and arms (Allegation C and D). A crowd of approximately 20 people, including [redacted] and [redacted] formed at the scene of the arrest, and Det. Tibbets pointed his taser at them and said, "Get back on the sidewalk or you will be tased" (Allegation E). PO Modesto said, "Get the fuck back," to the crowd of people (Allegation F). [redacted] was arrested for [redacted]
PO Modesto and PO Ortega transported [redacted] back to the 67th Precinct stationhouse. [redacted]'s father, also named [redacted] arrived at the station and requested PO Ortega's name and shield number. PO Ortega allegedly ignored [redacted]'s request (Allegation G).
There is video footage of the incident which was recorded by unidentified civilian bystanders during the incident, and the videos were provided to the CCRB by [redacted] and [redacted]. The videos are embedded below and show two different parts of the incident... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: June 18, 2017
Received: June 26, 2017
Closed: November 3, 2017

Reason for contact: Report-dispute
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 67th Precinct Brooklyn
Outcome: Arrest - assault (against a PO)

Witness Officers: Jasmine Francois
Video evidence collected