Complaint #201900351,
January 4, 2019

Officer: Gerlich, Thomas
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 35
Allegation: Discourtesy: Action
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Crawford, Russell
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 35
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Crawford, Russell
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 35
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Gerlich, Thomas
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 35
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Crawford, Russell
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 23
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Crawford, Russell
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 35
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Crawford, Russell
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 23
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Gerlich, Thomas
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 23
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Crawford, Russell
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 35
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Seizure of property
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Gerlich, Thomas Hispanic Male, 35 Discourtesy: Action Unfounded
Crawford, Russell Hispanic Male, 35 Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Unfounded
Crawford, Russell Hispanic Male, 35 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Exonerated
Gerlich, Thomas Hispanic Male, 35 Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched Unfounded
Crawford, Russell Hispanic Male, 23 Abuse of Authority: Question Unfounded
Crawford, Russell Hispanic Male, 35 Abuse of Authority: Question Unfounded
Crawford, Russell Hispanic Male, 23 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Exonerated
Gerlich, Thomas Hispanic Male, 23 Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Exonerated
Crawford, Russell Hispanic Male, 35 Abuse of Authority: Seizure of property Exonerated

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.

Further details on conclusions.


Summary

On January 4, 2019, at approximately 3:12 a.m., [redacted] was a passenger in his own tow truck driven by [redacted] when PO Thomas Gerlich and PO Russell Crawford of the 44th Precinct stopped the vehicle on the [redacted] where it crosses East 150th Street in the Bronx (Allegations A and B: Abuse of Authority, [redacted] provided their documents to the officers and were arrested for allegedly not having their driver's licenses. After [redacted] and [redacted] were removed from the vehicle, PO Crawford allegedly searched the vehicle for police frequency scanners (Allegation C: Abuse of Authority, [redacted] PO Crawford also allegedly asked both individuals if they were illegally towing vehicles (Allegations D and E: Abuse of Authority, [redacted] As he searched the vehicle, PO Crawford allegedly damaged [redacted]s radio, dashboard cameras, and seats (Allegation F: Abuse of Authority, [redacted] PO Gerlich frisked [redacted] on the side of the road and allegedly pulled down his pants and underwear, exposing [redacted] completely from his waist to his knees (Allegation G: Abuse of Authority, [redacted] PO Crawford seized [redacted]s vehicle and drove it back to the 44th Precinct stationhouse (Allegation H: Abuse of Authority, [redacted] were taken to the stationhouse and while [redacted] was being processed at the front desk, PO Gerlich allegedly threw away his two PBA cards and identification (Allegation I: Discourtesy, [redacted])
[redacted] was issued a summons for being an unlicensed tow truck assistant (BR 01). [redacted] was arrested for violating general city laws and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree (BR 02). Read report for details.


Details

Incident: January 4, 2019
Received: January 13, 2019
Closed: February 6, 2020

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - auto
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 40th Precinct Bronx
Outcome: Summons - other violation/crime

Body-Worn Camera evidence collected
Video evidence collected