Complaint #201902432,
March 6, 2019

Officer: Dionisi, Joseph
Complainant: Black Male, 37
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Messina, Christopher
Complainant: Black Male, 37
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Brower, Robert
Complainant: Black Male, 37
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Brower, Robert
Complainant: Black Male, 37
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Brower, Robert
Complainant: Black Male, 37
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Brower, Robert
Complainant: Black Male, 37
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Dionisi, Joseph
Complainant: Black Male, 37
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Dionisi, Joseph
Complainant: Black Male, 37
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Dionisi, Joseph
Complainant: Black Male, 37
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Dionisi, Joseph
Complainant: Black Male, 37
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Dionisi, Joseph Black Male, 37 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Messina, Christopher Black Male, 37 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Brower, Robert Black Male, 37 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Brower, Robert Black Male, 37 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Exonerated
Brower, Robert Black Male, 37 Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Exonerated
Brower, Robert Black Male, 37 Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Unfounded
Dionisi, Joseph Black Male, 37 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Exonerated
Dionisi, Joseph Black Male, 37 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Unsubstantiated
Dionisi, Joseph Black Male, 37 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Exonerated
Dionisi, Joseph Black Male, 37 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Exonerated
Unknown Officer Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording 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.
'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 March 6, 2019, at approximately 5:50 PM, while evicting [redacted] and his dog from their residence at [redacted] in Brooklyn, PO Joseph Dionisi (of the 77th Precinct) threatened to arrest [redacted] (Allegation A: Abuse of Authority – exonerated) When [redacted] refused to leave the premises, PO Dionisi and his partner PO Christopher Messina initiated physical contact with [redacted] and began to restrain him. (Allegations B, C: Force – exonerated) At the same moment, PO Saskya Rodriguez (77th Precinct) grabbed a cell phone out of [redacted]'s hands and prevented him from video recording the police action. (Allegation D: Abuse of Authority – exonerated) While grappling with him, PO Dionisi allegedly threatened to tase [redacted] who had his dog on a leash beside him – if he did not let go of the leash. (Allegation E: Abuse of Authority – exonerated) PO Dionisi then drew his taser and pointed it at [redacted]'s dog. (Allegation F: Abuse of Authority – exonerated) PO Dionisi also allegedly held the taser to [redacted]'s head. (Allegation G: Abuse of Authority - unsubstantiated) Shortly thereafter, PO Robert Brower (77th Precinct) arrived and joined the other officers in restraining [redacted] (Allegation H: Force – exonerated) PO Brower threatened to tase [redacted] as well. (Allegation I: Abuse of Authority – exonerated) When [redacted] still refused to let go of his dog, PO Brower used a blade to cut the leash from [redacted]'s grasp. (Allegation J: Property Damage – exonerated) PO Brower also allegedly cut [redacted]'s back pack off his shoulders. (Allegation K: Property Damage – unfounded) PO Dionisi, PO Messina, and PO Brower then jointly took [redacted] to the ground and handcuffed him. (Subsumed – Allegations B, C, H)
[redacted] was ultimately evicted pursuant to a housing court order and charged with [redacted]. Read report for details.


Details

Incident: March 6, 2019
Received: March 20, 2019
Closed: November 25, 2019

Reason for contact: Assist ACS or other agency
Location: Apartment/house
In NYPD 77th Precinct Brooklyn
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: Saskya Rodriguez
Body-Worn Camera evidence collected
Video evidence collected