Complaint #201706490,
August 9, 2017

Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Force: Restricted Breathing
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Force: Chokehold
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer: Powers, Erek
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Powers, Erek
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Bellevue, Job
Complainant: Black Male, 35
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Force: Restricted Breathing
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer: Sferrazza, Joseph
Complainant: Black Male, 35
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Powers, Erek
Complainant: Black Male, 35
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Lovera, Abel
Complainant: Black Male, 35
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Unknown Officer Black Male, 35-39 Force: Restricted Breathing Officer(s) Unidentified
Unknown Officer Black Male, 35-39 Force: Chokehold Officer(s) Unidentified
Powers, Erek Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Exonerated
Powers, Erek Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises Unsubstantiated
Bellevue, Job Black Male, 35 Force: Physical force Unsubstantiated
Unknown Officer Black Male, 35-39 Force: Restricted Breathing Officer(s) Unidentified
Sferrazza, Joseph Black Male, 35 Force: Physical force Unsubstantiated
Powers, Erek Black Male, 35 Force: Physical force Unsubstantiated
Lovera, Abel Black Male, 35 Force: Physical force Unsubstantiated

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 August 9, 2017, at approximately 7:17 p.m., [redacted] was inside his residence at [redacted] in Brooklyn. [redacted] and his friend, [redacted] had a loud argument, after which [redacted] walked [redacted] out of the apartment. At the apartment door, [redacted] encountered a large number of officers, including Sergeant Erek Powers, Police Officer Job Bellevue, Police Officer Joseph Sferrazza, and Police Officer Abel Lovera, all of the 81st Precinct. [redacted] refused to allow the officers to enter the apartment, and a physical struggle ensued. An officer allegedly placed [redacted] in a chokehold and restricted his breathing (Allegations A-B: Force, [redacted]). PO Lovera allegedly struck [redacted] in the side with his shoulder, and Sgt. Powers, PO Bellevue, PO Sferrazza, and PO Lovera took [redacted] to the ground (Allegations C-F: Force, [redacted]). An officer allegedly restricted [redacted] breathing by pressing a knee into his back (Allegation G: Force, [redacted]). Sgt. Powers and the other officers entered the apartment (Allegation H: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). Sgt. Powers and the other officers allegedly performed an extensive search of the apartment (Allegation I: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). The officers obtained a search warrant, searched the apartment the following day, and recovered two firearms and a quantity of narcotics.
[redacted] and [redacted] were arrested, along with the remaining individuals inside the apartment: [redacted] and [redacted] (BR03).
[redacted] Read report for details.


Details

Incident: August 9, 2017
Received: August 12, 2017
Closed: January 16, 2019

Reason for contact: Report-domestic dispute
Location: Apartment/house
In NYPD 81st Precinct Brooklyn
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime