Complaint #202003632,
May 28, 2020

Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Hispanic Female
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Complaint Withdrawn
Officer: Demchenko, Yuriy
Complainant: White, 35-39
Allegation: Force: Other blunt instrument as a club
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Demchenko, Yuriy
Allegation: Force: Other blunt instrument as a club
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Jacob, Craig
Allegation: Force: Other blunt instrument as a club
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Oconnell, John
Complainant: White, 35-39
Allegation: Force: Other blunt instrument as a club
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Jacob, Craig
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Lee, James
Allegation: Force: Vehicle
CCRB Conclusion: Complaint Withdrawn
Officer: Unknown Officer
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Complaint Withdrawn
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Unknown Officer Hispanic Female Force: Physical force Complaint Withdrawn
Demchenko, Yuriy White, 35-39 Force: Other blunt instrument as a club Substantiated (Charges)
Demchenko, Yuriy Force: Other blunt instrument as a club Substantiated (Charges)
Jacob, Craig Force: Other blunt instrument as a club Exonerated
Oconnell, John White, 35-39 Force: Other blunt instrument as a club Substantiated (Charges)
Jacob, Craig Discourtesy: Word Exonerated
Lee, James Force: Vehicle Complaint Withdrawn
Unknown Officer Force: Physical force Complaint Withdrawn

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

Further details on conclusions.


Penalties

Oconnell, John
Closed: Not guilty after trial-PC Approved, October 9, 2024
APU Not guilty

Demchenko, Yuriy
Closed: Not guilty after trial-PC Approved, October 9, 2024
APU Not guilty

Summary

On the afternoon of May 28, 2020, [redacted] and several dozen other civilians attended a Black Lives Matter protest at Union Square Park in Manhattan. By 4 p.m., [redacted] and other protesters lined up on the southeast corner of the park, at East 14th Street and Union Square East, where protesters gave speeches. Soon after, NYPD bicycle officers including Police Officer Yuriy Demchenko (of SRG 3) and Detective Craig Jacob (of SRG 1) lined up facing them. At 4:18 p.m., some protesters briefly stepped into the bicycle lane of the street. PO Demchenko began repeatedly pushing [redacted] and unidentified protesters with his police bicycle (Allegations A-B: Force, [redacted]). Captain John O'Connell of the 9th Precinct assisted PO Demchenko in pushing [redacted] with PO Demchenko's bicycle (Allegation C: Force, [redacted]). Det. Jacob also pushed unidentified individuals with his bicycle (Allegation D: Force, [redacted]). Det. Jacob used the word "fuck" in ordering individuals to get back (Allegation E: Discourtesy, [redacted]).
Almost an hour later, an officer allegedly pushed unidentified individuals and allegedly punched [redacted] in the stomach (Allegation F-G: Force, [redacted]). Sometime later, Lieutenant James Lee of the 9th Precinct was riding a moped scooter and allegedly drove his moped into multiple unidentified protestors, knocking at least one person to the ground (Allegation H: Force, [redacted]).
[redacted] and [redacted] were not arrested or issued any summonses during this incident. The investigation was unable to identify the other victims in this case and was therefore unable to ascertain whether they were arrested or issued any summonses.
The CCRB marked this case as sensitive on July 15, 2020, following the [redacted] coverage of this incident (Board Review 48). This incident later received additional media coverage in an October 2020 article by [redacted] about SRG's use-of-force tactics (Board Review 49). On January 14, 2021, the New York State Attorney General's Office filed a lawsuit... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: May 28, 2020
Closed: October 1, 2021
Last Updated: October 2, 2025

Reason for contact: Demonstration/protest
Location: Park
In NYPD 13th Precinct Manhattan
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Witness Officers: Jose Abreu, Renato Altamirano, Rachel Ayala, Steven Chimienti, Joseph Curley, John Dadamo, Michael Davi, Gerard Dowling, Daniel Gallagher, Joshua Gregory, Richard Guerrieri, Christopher Havlik, Steven Hellman, Andrew Hillery, Stephen Hughes, Michele Irizarry, David Johnson, Peter Kim, Erick Larios, Paula Martorella, Brian Mcginn, Adam Mellusi, Ronald Ramos, Asar Rhymer, Alberto Saavedra, Anthony Smith, Ruben Tengco, Anibal Vasquez, Angel Vazquez, Elias Vazquez, Brian Verkay
Body-Worn Camera evidence collected
Video evidence collected