Complaint #202104887,
July 31, 2021

Officer: Zorrilla, John
Complainant: Black Male, 40-44
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 30-34
Allegation: Force: Pepper spray
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 30-34
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 30-34
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Complainant: Black Male, 40-44
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Complainant: Black Male, 40-44
Allegation: Force: Pepper spray
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Complainant: Black Male, 40-44
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Unknown Officer
Complainant: Black Male, 40-44
Allegation: Force: Restricted Breathing
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Complainant: Black Male, 40-44
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 25-29
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 25-29
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 25-29
Allegation: Offensive Language: Gender
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 25-29
Allegation: Offensive Language: Gender
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Recategorized as: Offensive Language: Other
Officer: Zorrilla, John
Complainant: Black Male, 40-44
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Zorrilla, John Black Male, 40-44 Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Exonerated
Zorrilla, John Hispanic Male, 30-34 Force: Pepper spray Exonerated
Zorrilla, John Hispanic Male, 30-34 Force: Physical force Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Zorrilla, John Hispanic Male, 30-34 Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital Exonerated
Zorrilla, John Black Male, 40-44 Discourtesy: Word Unfounded
Zorrilla, John Discourtesy: Word Unfounded
Zorrilla, John Force: Physical force Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Zorrilla, John Black Male, 40-44 Force: Pepper spray Exonerated
Zorrilla, John Black Male, 40-44 Force: Physical force Unfounded
Unknown Officer Black Male, 40-44 Force: Restricted Breathing Unfounded
Zorrilla, John Black Male, 40-44 Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Zorrilla, John Hispanic Male, 25-29 Force: Physical force Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Zorrilla, John Hispanic Male, 25-29 Discourtesy: Word Unfounded
Zorrilla, John Hispanic Male, 25-29 Offensive Language: Gender Unfounded
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024
Zorrilla, John Discourtesy: Word Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Zorrilla, John Hispanic Male, 25-29 Offensive Language: Gender Unfounded
Recategorized as Offensive Language: Other on December 9, 2024
Zorrilla, John Black Male, 40-44 Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital 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.
'Unfounded': Evidence suggests that the event or alleged conduct did not occur.

Further details on conclusions.


Penalty

Zorrilla, John
Forfeit vacation 9 days
Closed: Resolved by plea, October 2, 2023
APU Guilty
Forfeit vacation 9 days

Summary

On July 31, 2021, at approximately 3:19 a.m., [redacted] entered the Delancey-Essex Streets subway station in Manhattan, and Sergeant John Zorrilla of Transit Bureau District 04 told [redacted] that he could not take the train because he was drunk. [redacted] and Sergeant Zorrilla started arguing, and Sergeant Zorrilla told [redacted] that he would be arrested if he came through the turnstile (Allegation A – Abuse of Authority: Threat of Arrest, [redacted]).
[redacted] entered the station and approached the turnstile, and Sergeant Zorrilla told him he could not take the train. [redacted] swiped his Metrocard, pushed Sergeant Zorrilla in his chest, and went through the turnstile. Sergeant Zorrilla then pepper-sprayed [redacted] (Allegation B – Force: Pepper Spray, [redacted]) and pushed him to the floor (Allegation C – Force: Physical Force, [redacted]). [redacted] asked the officers why the officers had [redacted] on the ground, and Sergeant Zorrilla allegedly cursed at [redacted] in response (Allegation D – Discourtesy: Word, [redacted]). [redacted] was removed to New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital for treatment for his intoxication and the pepper spray (Allegation E – Abuse of Authority: Forcible Removal to Hospital, [redacted]).
An unidentified female attempted to enter the station without paying her fare, and Sergeant Zorrilla allegedly told her to pay her fare or "get the fuck out" (Allegation F – Discourtesy: Word, [redacted]). The female paid her fare, and a verbal dispute ensued between her and Sergeant Zorrilla. Sergeant Zorrilla grabbed the female's arm, and she tried to pull away from him. Sergeant Zorrilla allegedly "slammed" the female to the floor, then grabbed her pants and dragged her on her back across the floor through the emergency gate (Allegation G – Force: Physical Force, [redacted]). The female attempted to reenter the subway station through the emergency gate. Sergeant Zorrilla pushed the female back, and she fell to the floor (within Allegation G). [redacted] approached... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: July 31, 2021
Received: August 5, 2021
Closed: December 16, 2022
Last Updated: December 11, 2024

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - subway
Location: Subway station/train
In NYPD 7th Precinct Manhattan
Outcome: Arrest - OGA

Witness Officers: Stephen Babin, Nicholas Battaglia, Augusto Hernandez, Christopher Macaluso, Kenneth Munoz, Stephen Patti, Xavier Reyes, Jonathan Rivera
Body-Worn Camera evidence collected
Video evidence collected