Complaint #201908344,
September 19, 2019

Officer: Olson, Thomas
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Offensive Language: Religion
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Olson, Thomas
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Olson, Thomas
Complainant: Black Female, 15-17
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Olson, Thomas
Complainant: Black Female, 15-17
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Olson, Thomas
Complainant: Black Female, 15-17
Allegation: Offensive Language: Gender
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer: Sofia, Ashleigh
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to process civilian complaint
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Olson, Thomas
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Force: Restricted Breathing
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Olson, Thomas
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Olson, Thomas
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Discourtesy: Action
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Olson, Thomas
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Olson, Thomas
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Force: Chokehold
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Olson, Thomas
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Olson, Thomas
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 25-29
Allegation: Discourtesy: Action
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Olson, Thomas Black Male, 25-29 Offensive Language: Religion Unfounded
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024
Unknown Officer Black Male, 25-29 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Olson, Thomas Black Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched Unfounded
Olson, Thomas Black Female, 15-17 Abuse of Authority: Entry of Premises Unsubstantiated
Olson, Thomas Black Female, 15-17 Abuse of Authority: Search of Premises Unsubstantiated
Olson, Thomas Black Female, 15-17 Offensive Language: Gender Unsubstantiated
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024
Unknown Officer Black Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name Officer(s) Unidentified
Unknown Officer Black Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number Officer(s) Unidentified
Sofia, Ashleigh Black Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to process civilian complaint Unsubstantiated
Olson, Thomas Black Male, 25-29 Force: Restricted Breathing Unfounded
Olson, Thomas Black Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Unfounded
Olson, Thomas Black Male, 25-29 Discourtesy: Action Unfounded
Unknown Officer Black Male, 25-29 Force: Physical force Unfounded
Olson, Thomas Black Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Unfounded
Olson, Thomas Black Male, 25-29 Force: Chokehold Unfounded
Olson, Thomas Black Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name Unsubstantiated
Olson, Thomas Black Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide shield number Unsubstantiated
Unknown Officer Black Male, 25-29 Discourtesy: Action Unfounded

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
'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 September 19, 2019, at approximately 6:00 PM, at [redacted] in the Bronx, [redacted] was arrested by Police Officer Thomas Olson, Police Officer Lissa Solermarte, Police Officer Jorge Benscome and Police Officer Alexander Polceano of the 42nd Precinct in regard to an open I-Card. The officers used a forcible takedown to apprehend [redacted] (Allegation (A) Force - Physical Force, [redacted]). Police Officer Olson also allegedly pressed his knee into [redacted] neck, which restricted his breathing (Allegation (B) Force – Chokehold, Allegation (C) Force – Breathing Restricted, [redacted]). Allegedly, the officers also repeatedly punched [redacted] while he was being handcuffed (within Allegation A). During the arrest, Police Officer Olson allegedly damaged [redacted] two cell phones intentionally (Allegation (D) Abuse of Authority – Property Damage, [redacted]). At some point thereafter, Police Officer Olson allegedly "slapped" [redacted] kufi - a religious cap – off of his head and remarked that he should, "Pray to Jesus" (Allegation (E) Discourtesy – Action, [redacted], Allegation (F) Offensive Language – Religion, [redacted]).
[redacted] was removed to the 42nd Precinct stationhouse, where Police Officer Olson allegedly threatened him with force and strip-searched him (Allegation (G) Abuse of Authority – Threat of Force, [redacted], Allegation (H) Abuse of Authority – Strip-Search, [redacted]). While held in the cells, an unidentified officer allegedly gestured his middle-finger at [redacted] (Allegation (I) -Discourtesy - Action, [redacted]). Additionally, Sergeant Ashleigh Sofia of the 42nd Precinct allegedly refused to process [redacted] request to file a CCRB complaint (Allegation (J) Abuse of Authority – Failure to Process CCRB Complaint, [redacted]). [redacted] was taken from the stationhouse to [redacted]. Officers allegedly used force to bring him out of the cells and into the ambulance (Allegation (K): Force – Physical Force (unspecified), [redacted]). [redacted] alleged that he asked Police... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: September 19, 2019
Received: September 20, 2019
Closed: November 24, 2021
Last Updated: December 11, 2024

Reason for contact: Report-dispute
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 42nd Precinct Bronx
Outcome: Arrest - resisting arrest

Witness Officers: Visar Azemi, Jorge Bencosme, Manuel Castillo, Sherrell Davis, Jose Gomera, Evan Hodos, Joseph Mesaris, John Paulino, Alexander Ponceano, Jandel Scarlett, Lissa Solermarte
Body-Worn Camera evidence collected
Video evidence collected