Complaint #201903279,
March 24, 2019

Officer: Mella, Rolando
Complainant: Male, 26
Allegation: Offensive Language: Race
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Unsubstantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Unfounded
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer: Mella, Rolando
Complainant: Male, 26
Allegation: Offensive Language: Gender
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Unsubstantiated
CCRB Board Conclusion: Unfounded
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer: Mella, Rolando
Complainant: Male, 26
Allegation: Offensive Language: Race
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer: Mella, Rolando
Complainant: Male, 26
Allegation: Discourtesy: Action
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of recording device
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Gabel, Donald
Complainant: Male, 26
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Miscellaneous - Subject Resigned
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Board Conclusion
Mella, Rolando Male, 26 Offensive Language: Race Unfounded
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024
Mella, Rolando Male, 26 Offensive Language: Gender Unfounded
CCRB Investigator Recommendation: Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024
Mella, Rolando Male, 26 Offensive Language: Race Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024
Mella, Rolando Male, 26 Discourtesy: Action Unsubstantiated
Unknown Officer Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Search of recording device Unfounded
Gabel, Donald Male, 26 Force: Physical force Miscellaneous - Subject Resigned

Conclusion Meanings:

'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 24, 2019, at approximately 9:10pm, [redacted] was inside his apartment building at [redacted] in Manhattan. Police Officer Rolando Mella and Police Officer Alex Tegan, both assigned to the 33rd Precinct, arrived on scene in response to a roommate dispute. PO Mella called [redacted] a "puto nigga" (Allegations A and B: Offensive Language-[redacted] 1). While officers handcuffed [redacted] PO Donald Gabel aggressively pulled [redacted] arm back, causing him significant pain (Allegation C: Force-[redacted]). While [redacted] was face-down on the ground, PO Mella kicked dust in his face (Allegation D: Discourtesy-[redacted] 1). Officers then brought [redacted] to the 33rd Precinct Stationhouse. At the station house, an officer scrolled through [redacted] cell phone (Allegation E: Abuse of Authority-[redacted]). While [redacted] was in the holding cell, PO Mella called him a "nigger" (Allegation F: Offensive Language-[redacted]). Read report for details.


Details

Incident: March 24, 2019
Received: April 16, 2019
Closed: December 22, 2020
Last Updated: December 11, 2024

Reason for contact: Report-dispute
Location: Apartment/house
In NYPD 33rd Precinct Manhattan
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: Philip Bowles, Daniel Sanches, Alex Tegan, Michael Vaccaro, Gilbert Vega
Body-Worn Camera evidence collected