Complaint #202100995,
February 4, 2021

Officer: Verna, David
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Officer: Strawn, Matthew
Complainant: Black Male, 35-39
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Verna, David Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital Substantiated (Formalized Training)
Strawn, Matthew Black Male, 35-39 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Exonerated

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.


Summary

On February 4th, 2021, at approximately 10:30pm, [redacted] was engaged in a dispute with the two proprietors of the [redacted] located at [redacted] in the Bronx. [redacted] and [redacted] called 911 to report that [redacted] had thrown some sort of liquid into his eye. Police officers Gabriela Breton and Dinercy Pinales of the 47th Precinct responded and spoke to both [redacted] as well as [redacted] and [redacted]. The officers instructed [redacted] to leave the location. At one point, either PO Pinales or PO Breton called for an ambulance as well as a supervisor, and told [redacted] to either leave the location, or go to the hospital. Sgt. David Verna of the 47th Precinct responded and spoke with [redacted] and made the decision to send him to the hospital (Allegation A: Abuse of Authority—[redacted]). [redacted] went into the ambulance, and then decided he did not want to go to the hospital. [redacted] then exited the ambulance. Sgt. Verna proceeded to place [redacted] in handcuffs and walked him into the ambulance, where [redacted] was sent to [redacted] where his temperature was taken, and then he was released.
On February 5th, 2021, at approximately 10:30am, [redacted] returned to the [redacted] and spoke with [redacted] and [redacted] about the incident the day before and called 911 multiple times. PO Matthew Strawn and PO Henry Valencia responded at 1:22pm. PO Strawn spoke with [redacted] and [redacted] about the incident and what had transpired on February 4th. PO Strawn then spoke with [redacted] about the incident. [redacted] asked PO Strawn to go inside the restaurant and look at surveillance footage for evidence of the incident involving [redacted] allegedly throwing liquid into [redacted]'s eye the previous day. After conducting his investigation, PO Strawn did not believe that any criminal activity had occurred. PO Strawn spoke with [redacted] outside the restaurant and stated, "And if there's no assault, you're making a false report, right?" PO Strawn states, "They told you that you had to... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: February 4, 2021
Received: February 16, 2021
Closed: July 11, 2022

Reason for contact: Report-dispute
Location: Commercial building
In NYPD 47th Precinct Bronx
Outcome: No arrest made or summons issued

Witness Officers: Gabriela Breton, Dinercy Pinales, Henry Valencia
Body-Worn Camera evidence collected