Complaint #202102419,
April 18, 2021

Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Female, 18-20
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Female, 18-20
Allegation: Force: Restricted Breathing
CCRB Conclusion: Alleged Victim Uncooperative
Officer: Samuel, Smithu
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Samuel, Smithu
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Kasaji, Amjad
Complainant: Female, 18-20
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Unknown Officer Female, 18-20 Force: Physical force Exonerated
Unknown Officer Female, 18-20 Force: Restricted Breathing Alleged Victim Uncooperative
Samuel, Smithu Force: Physical force Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Samuel, Smithu Force: Physical force Exonerated
Kasaji, Amjad Female, 18-20 Force: Physical force 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.


Penalty

Samuel, Smithu
Command Discipline - B
Command Discipline - B (Vacation: 5 days)

Summary

[redacted] viewed video of alleged misconduct at a protest that occurred at the Barclays Center at 620 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn on April 18, 2021. Sergeant Smithu Samuel, Police Officer Lea Sahlani, and Police Officer Patrick McMahon, all of the 61st Precinct, were assigned to the arrest team. Sgt. Samuel used force against a female civilian by pushing her to the ground when no other members of service deemed this necessary (Allegation A: Force, [redacted]). When officers apprehended [redacted] officers and Detective Amjad Kasaji of the Narcotics Borough for Brooklyn North used force against her (Allegation B: Force, [redacted]; Allegation C: Force, [redacted]). [redacted] stated on body-worn camera (BWC) that she could not breathe during her apprehension (Allegation D: Force, [redacted]). Officers then put her into an arrest van with [redacted], another civilian who was arrested. As a female civilian tried to go to the arrest van to speak with [redacted], Sgt. Samuel used his asp to push her away (Allegation E: Force, [redacted]). The arrest team drove to the 69 Precinct where Police Officer Abigail Brunner of the 69 Precinct helped PO Sahlani process [redacted] and lodge her into the cells. [redacted] Read report for details.


Details

Incident: April 18, 2021
Received: April 21, 2021
Closed: August 3, 2022

Reason for contact: Demonstration/protest
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 78th Precinct Brooklyn
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: Abigail Brunner, Patrick Mcmahon, Andrew Pereiro, Lea Sahlani, Patrick Terlonge
Body-Worn Camera evidence collected
Video evidence collected