Complaint #202003860,
June 2, 2020

Officer: Unknown Officer
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Victim Unidentified
Officer: Smith, Thomas
Complainant: White Male, 25-29
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Cuce, David
Complainant: White Male, 25-29
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Smith, Thomas
Complainant: White Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Hewitson, Christopher
Complainant: White Male, 45-49
Allegation: Force: Nightstick as club (incl asp & baton)
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Hewitson, Christopher
Complainant: White Male, 45-49
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Hewitson, Christopher
Complainant: White Male, 45-49
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: White Male, 25-29
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Hewitson, Christopher
Allegation: Untruthful Statement: False official statement
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Hewitson, Christopher
Complainant: White Male, 45-49
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Hewitson, Christopher
Complainant: White Male, 45-49
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: White Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: White Male, 25-29
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search of recording device
CCRB Conclusion: Officer(s) Unidentified
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Unknown Officer Force: Physical force Victim Unidentified
Smith, Thomas White Male, 25-29 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Cuce, David White Male, 25-29 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Smith, Thomas White Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Unsubstantiated
Hewitson, Christopher White Male, 45-49 Force: Nightstick as club (incl asp & baton) Unsubstantiated
Hewitson, Christopher White Male, 45-49 Force: Physical force Substantiated (Charges)
Hewitson, Christopher White Male, 45-49 Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Unknown Officer White Male, 25-29 Discourtesy: Word Exonerated
Hewitson, Christopher Untruthful Statement: False official statement Substantiated (Charges)
Hewitson, Christopher White Male, 45-49 Force: Physical force Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Hewitson, Christopher White Male, 45-49 Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording Substantiated (Charges)
Unknown Officer White Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Interference with recording Officer(s) Unidentified
Unknown Officer White Male, 25-29 Abuse of Authority: Search of recording device Officer(s) Unidentified

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
'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.


Penalty

Hewitson, Christopher
Forfeit vacation 20 days
Closed: Resolved by plea, July 3, 2024
APU Guilty
Forfeit vacation 20 days

Summary

On June 2, 2020, shortly before 9:30 p.m., a Black Lives Matter protest was marching south past the block of the Midtown North Precinct stationhouse at 9th Avenue and West 54th Street in Manhattan. Midtown North Precinct Commanding Officer Inspector Mark Iocco (now assigned to the Risk Management Bureau) ordered his subordinates to begin arresting protesters for violating the Mayor's 8 p.m. curfew. Midtown North Precinct officers—including Captain Thomas Smith (now assigned to the 1st Precinct), Lieutenant David Cuce (now assigned to the Criminal Intelligence Section), and Sergeant Christopher Hewitson-chased protesters down 9th Avenue to the intersection with West 53rd Street. Capt. Smith and Lt. Cuce grabbed [redacted] and took him to the ground on the sidewalk to arrest him (Allegations A-B: Force, [redacted]) Capt. Smith broke [redacted] protest sign (Allegation C: Abuse of Authority: [redacted]) An officer told [redacted] "Give me your fucking hands," (Allegation D: Discourtesy, [redacted]) An officer allegedly terminated [redacted] cell phone recording, thereby interfering with his use of a recording device and searching that recording device (Allegations E-F: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]).
Several feet away, [redacted] was photographing [redacted] arrest in his capacity as a photojournalist for the [redacted] Sgt. Hewitson ran up to [redacted] and used physical force against him (Allegation G: Force, [redacted]). In doing so, Sgt. Hewitson allegedly struck [redacted] in the face with a baton (Allegation H: Force, [redacted]).
[redacted] backed away from Sgt. Hewitson, held out his press pass, and yelled that he was with the media. Sgt. Hewitson ran at [redacted] again. [redacted] turned and ran away from Sgt. Hewitson. Sgt. Hewitson pushed [redacted] in the back, causing him to fall face-first onto the sidewalk (Allegation I: Force, [redacted]) [redacted] sustained a hematoma to his cheek, abrasions and bruises to his arms, and abrasions to his legs. Sgt. Hewitson's push also caused [redacted] camera... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: June 2, 2020
Received: June 3, 2020
Closed: April 21, 2022
Last Updated: July 5, 2024

Reason for contact: Demonstration/protest
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD Midtown North Precinct Manhattan
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: Franco Condo, Melissa Gillott, Steven Glibbery, Christopher Laietta, Steven Lowe, Christopher Mallette, Michael Mcglynn, Sean Mcgowan, Ronald Perillo, Atisha Samuel, Lance Trent, Robert Yturraspe
Body-Worn Camera evidence collected
Video evidence collected