Complaint #202006932,
September 27, 2020

Summary

On September 27, 2020, at approximately 11:54 p.m., [redacted] was sitting in her parked car outside 780 Livonia Avenue in Brooklyn. Her husband, [redacted] was standing beside the vehicle, smoking a marijuana blunt, and drinking an alcoholic beverage in a plastic cup. [redacted] brother, [redacted] was sitting in the backseat along with his partner, [redacted] There was additional marijuana and paraphernalia inside the vehicle. Sergeant Daniel Berardi and Police Officers Anthony Varrone and Joseph Vigiano of the 75th Precinct arrived, saw [redacted] smoking marijuana, and stopped him. PO Varrone frisked [redacted] (Allegation A: Abuse of Authority), PO Varrone allegedly searched [redacted] (Allegation B: Abuse of Authority), and Sgt. Berardi supervised as he and the other officers stopped [redacted] and [redacted] (Allegations C-E: Abuse of Authority). PO Varrone searched [redacted] and Sgt. Berardi allegedly searched [redacted] (Allegations F-G: Abuse of Authority). Multiple additional officers arrived on scene, including Police Officer Andre Ohara of the 75th Precinct. PO Ohara forcibly took [redacted] car keys from her after she refused to relinquish them (Allegation H: Force, Allegation I: Abuse of Authority). PO Vigiano searched [redacted] vehicle (Allegation J: Abuse of Authority). PO Vigiano issued a summons to [redacted] for unlawful possession of marijuana (image of summons in memo book at BR 01). At the conclusion of the incident, Sgt. Berardi did not provide business cards to [redacted] or [redacted] (Allegations K-M: Abuse of Authority).
The officers accidentally left the scene with [redacted] keys still in their vehicle, and Sgt. Berardi drove back and returned them after [redacted] realized and called the stationhouse and 911. Sgt. Berardi then reported that portion of the incident to IAB (BR30), which ultimately led to a concurrent investigation conducted by Patrol Borough Brooklyn North Investigations (see casefile at BR31). Read report for details.