Complaint #201904816,
June 2, 2019

Summary

At approximately 10:13 p.m. on June 2, 2019, a large group of officers responded to 1565 Townsend Avenue in the Bronx to investigate a 911 call reporting a civilian with a gun. Sergeant Harry De La Cruz of the 44th Precinct approached [redacted] and other civilians at the building entranceway and stood near them. Sergeant De La Cruz called [redacted] a "lambon," a Spanish insult (Allegation A: Discourtesy: Word: [redacted]). As [redacted] filmed him with [redacted]s cellphone, Sergeant De La Cruz smacked the phone out of [redacted]s hand, allegedly striking [redacted] in the neck (Allegation B: Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording: [redacted], Allegation C: Force: Physical force: [redacted]). [redacted] verbally objected to this, and Sergeant De La Cruz responded by bringing him into the building's vestibule and starting to arrest him (Allegation D: Abuse of Authority: Retaliatory Arrest: [redacted]). Sergeant De La Cruz then grabbed [redacted]s arm and began to grapple with him (Allegation E: Force: Physical Force: [redacted]). Police Officer Jae Encarnacion, Police Officer Jonathan Sordellini, Police Officer Austin Joyce, and Police Officer Robert Weinberg of the 44th Precinct entered the vestibule and assisted Sergeant De La Cruz in apprehending [redacted] (Allegations F, G, H, and I: Force: Physical Force: [redacted]). During this struggle, one or more officers allegedly struck [redacted] multiple times (Allegation J: Force: Physical Force: [redacted]). As the officers struggled to apprehend [redacted], multiple civilians approached the building entranceway, recording the incident and shouting at the police. Police Officer Hensley Caraballo of the 44th Precinct twice told the civilians to "get the fuck back" (Allegation K: Discourtesy: Word: [redacted]). As he led [redacted] out of the building, Police Officer Weinberg told [redacted] to "shut the fuck up" (Allegation L: Discourtesy: Word: [redacted]). As the officers tried to put [redacted] into a police vehicle, a crowd formed, and civilians... Read report for details.