Complaint #202002792,
April 11, 2020

Officer: Hoxha, Merita
Complainant: Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Vargas, Dennis
Complainant: Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Alvino, Anthony
Complainant: Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Vargas, Dennis
Complainant: Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Vargas, Dennis
Complainant: Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Vargas, Dennis
Complainant: Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Vargas, Dennis
Complainant: Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Alvino, Anthony
Complainant: Male, 25-29
Allegation: Force: Chokehold
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Alvino, Anthony
Complainant: Male, 25-29
Allegation: Force: Restricted Breathing
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Alvino, Anthony
Complainant: Male, 25-29
Allegation: Discourtesy: Gesture
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Hoxha, Merita
Complainant: Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Alvino, Anthony
Complainant: Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Hoxha, Merita
Allegation: Untruthful Statement: Misleading official statement
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Vargas, Dennis
Allegation: Untruthful Statement: Misleading official statement
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Alvino, Anthony
Allegation: Untruthful Statement: Misleading official statement
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Hoxha, Merita Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card Unsubstantiated
Vargas, Dennis Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card Unsubstantiated
Alvino, Anthony Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Failure to provide RTKA card Unsubstantiated
Vargas, Dennis Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Stop Unsubstantiated
Vargas, Dennis Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name Unsubstantiated
Vargas, Dennis Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Frisk Unsubstantiated
Vargas, Dennis Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Unsubstantiated
Alvino, Anthony Male, 25-29 Force: Chokehold Unsubstantiated
Alvino, Anthony Male, 25-29 Force: Restricted Breathing Unsubstantiated
Alvino, Anthony Male, 25-29 Discourtesy: Gesture Unsubstantiated
Hoxha, Merita Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Stop Unsubstantiated
Alvino, Anthony Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Stop Unsubstantiated
Hoxha, Merita Untruthful Statement: Misleading official statement Substantiated (Charges)
Vargas, Dennis Untruthful Statement: Misleading official statement Substantiated (Charges)
Alvino, Anthony Untruthful Statement: Misleading official statement Substantiated (Charges)

Conclusion Meanings:

'Substantiated': The misconduct occurred and it violated the rules. The NYPD has discretion over what, if any, discipline is imposed.
'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.


Penalties

Hoxha, Merita
Forfeit vacation 10 days
Closed: Plea set aside, Without discipline, August 1, 2024
APU Dismissed

Vargas, Dennis
Forfeit vacation 10 days
Closed: Plea set aside, Without discipline, August 1, 2024
APU Dismissed

Alvino, Anthony
Forfeit vacation 10 days
Closed: Plea set aside, Without discipline, August 1, 2024
APU Dismissed

Summary

On April 11, 2020, at 2:33 AM, [redacted] and [redacted] stood outside [redacted] in the Bronx. An unmarked blue sedan stopped near the group. Officer Dennis Vargas, Officer Anthony Alvino and Officer Merita Hoxha approached the group.
Officer Vargas, Officer Alvino, and Officer Hoxha stopped [redacted] (Allegation A: Abuse of Authority, [redacted] (Allegation B: Abuse of Authority, [redacted] (Allegation C: Abuse of Authority, [redacted] asked for an Officer Vargas's name and precinct. Officer Vargas did not respond to this question (Allegation D: Abuse of Authority, Officer Vargas asked [redacted] to put his hands up. Officer Vargas patted down [redacted] body (Allegation E: Abuse of Authority, [redacted] and reached into [redacted] pockets (Allegation F: Abuse of Authority, [redacted] Officer Alvino grabbed the front of [redacted] neck with his right hand and exerted pressure with his hand (Allegation G: Force, [redacted] [redacted] had difficulty breathing (Allegation H: Force, [redacted] As soon as Officer Alvino released [redacted] neck, all three officers returned to their vehicle. The officers drove away, and Officer Alvino raised his middle finger at [redacted] (Allegation I: Discourtesy, [redacted] Officer Vargas, Officer Alvino and Officer Hoxha failed to offer [redacted] a business card (Allegation J: Abuse of Authority, [redacted] (Allegation K: Abuse of Authority, [redacted] (Allegation L: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]
On December 2, 2020, Officer Alvino provided a misleading official statement to the CCRB (Allegation M: Untruthful Statement, [redacted] On January 22, 2021, Officer Hoxha provided a misleading official statement to the CCRB (Allegation N: Untruthful Statement, [redacted] On September 22, 2021, Officer Vargas provided a misleading official statement to the CCRB (Allegation O: Untruthful Statement, [redacted]
The Internal Affairs Bureau investigated a concurrent investigation into allegations of Force - Physical Force, Force - Struck Against Object, Discourtesy - Gesture,... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: April 11, 2020
Received: April 17, 2020
Closed: April 21, 2022
Last Updated: August 3, 2024

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - street
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 42nd Precinct Bronx
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Witness Officers: Imran Alli, Lewellyn Alvarez, Jarrett Dill, Joseph Rowe, Marquise Walcott