Complaint #201707029,
August 19, 2017

Officer: Mateo, Carmen
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Mateo, Carmen
Complainant: Female, 46
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Mateo, Carmen
Complainant: Female, 46
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Board Conclusion
Mateo, Carmen Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched Exonerated
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Substantiated
Mateo, Carmen Female, 46 Discourtesy: Word Unfounded
Mateo, Carmen Female, 46 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest 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.
'Unfounded': Evidence suggests that the event or alleged conduct did not occur.
'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 19, 2017, at approximately 12:50 p.m., [redacted] was walking her dog outside her residence, [redacted] in Manhattan. The superintendent of [redacted] building, [redacted] had called 911 to report that [redacted] had broken the window on the front door of the building and had been urinating outside the building. Two officers, identified as Sergeant Carmen Mateo and Police Officer Ishmael Perez-Ortiz of the 34th Precinct, responded. The officers spoke to [redacted] who explained that [redacted] had broken the window, had been running around naked, and had urinated in front of the building. [redacted] stated that he and [redacted] had an ongoing dispute, in which she had harassed and previously threatened him with a knife.
The officers then spoke to [redacted] who explained that she had been illegally locked out of her building because [redacted] had changed the locks without telling her. [redacted] who had her dog with her while speaking to the officers, stated that Sgt. Mateo asked her what was wrong with her dog before allegedly saying, "I'm about to arrest you for animal abuse" (Allegation A). Sgt. Mateo then asked [redacted] to provide proof that her dog was receiving veterinary care. [redacted] explained that her dog was a service animal and that she likely had veterinary bills in her apartment. [redacted] led the officers inside her building and back to her apartment, [redacted].
When she entered her apartment, [redacted] attempted to close her door behind her, expecting the officers to wait outside. When [redacted] attempted to close her apartment door, Sgt. Mateo placed her foot on the threshold to prevent her from closing the door (Allegation B). [redacted] asked Sgt. Mateo to remove her foot from the door and Sgt. Mateo refused. Sgt. Mateo ordered [redacted] to leave the apartment and led her outside.
Once outside the building, Sgt. Mateo informed [redacted] that she had called EMS and they would decide if she was going to the hospital. While waiting for EMS, [redacted] spoke to PO... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: August 19, 2017
Received: August 25, 2017
Closed: January 9, 2018

Reason for contact: Report of other crime
Location: Residential building
In NYPD 34th Precinct Manhattan
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Witness Officers: Ismael Perezortiz