Complaint #201809015,
October 28, 2017

Officer: Arnone, Charles
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Arnone, Charles
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Lafata, Joseph
Complainant: Black Male, 48
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to show search warrant
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Arnone, Charles
Complainant: Black Male, 48
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Seizure of property
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 18-20
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to show search warrant
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Uncooperative
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 45-49
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 18-20
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Uncooperative
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 21-24
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Uncooperative
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Arnone, Charles Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Exonerated
Arnone, Charles Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises Exonerated
Lafata, Joseph Black Male, 48 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to show search warrant Unsubstantiated
Arnone, Charles Black Male, 48 Abuse of Authority: Seizure of property Exonerated
Unknown Officer Black Male, 18-20 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to show search warrant Alleged Victim Uncooperative
Unknown Officer Black Male, 45-49 Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Officer(s) Unidentified
Unknown Officer Black Male, 18-20 Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Alleged Victim Uncooperative
Unknown Officer Black Male, 21-24 Force: Physical force Alleged Victim Uncooperative

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

At approximately 6:00 a.m. on October 28, 2017, Police Officer Charles Arnone, of the 71st Precinct (he has since been promoted to Sergeant), along with other officers from the 71st Precinct executed a search warrant and forcibly entered [redacted] with the assistance of Emergency Service Unit (ESU) officers. Unidentified ESU officers entered [redacted] bedroom, pointed guns at him, and handcuffed him. (Allegation A: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises: [redacted])
An unidentified ESU officer also entered the bedroom where [redacted] and [redacted] were sleeping and allegedly kicked [redacted] and [redacted] in the groin (Allegation B: Force: Physical Force: [redacted]) were handcuffed and brought to the living room.
Sergeant Joseph Lafata, of Intel Criminal Section, then entered [redacted] bedroom and [redacted] asked him to see the search warrant. Sgt. Lafata allegedly said that he did not have to show a search warrant (Allegation C: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to Show Search Warrant: [redacted]) [redacted] asked every officer he saw to see a search warrant and allegedly none of the officers responded (Allegation D: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to Show Search Warrant: [redacted])
[redacted] and [redacted] were arrested for criminal use of drug paraphernalia and taken to the 71st precinct stationhouse. PO Arnone and other officers then searched the apartment (Allegation E: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises: [redacted])
Later that day, [redacted] and [redacted] were released with Desk Appearance Tickets. When they came back to their apartment, [redacted] observed damage to his front door. He also observed a broken bed leg, a broken bed drawer, and a couch frame that was bent (Allegation F: Abuse of Authority: Property Damaged: [redacted]). [redacted] high school diploma and social security card were seized (Allegation G: Abuse of Authority: Seizure of Property: [redacted]) [redacted] also observed broken liquor glasses, a broken microphone stand, and a rip in the bottom of his couch (Allegation H:... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: October 28, 2017
Received: October 29, 2018
Closed: April 15, 2019

Reason for contact: Execution of search warrant
Location: Residential building
In NYPD 71st Precinct Brooklyn
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: Frank Beers, Danny Chan, Laurence Eng, Maximillian Gardner, Norman Grandstaff, Christopher Maccarone, David Viglione