Complaint #202204823,
July 22, 2022

Summary

At approximately 1:10 p.m. on July 22, 2022, [redacted] was driving along Union Turnpike in Queens with his fiancé in the passenger seat and his two brothers in the rear when he observed a marked SUV, operated by Police Officer Brian Dietzel of the 107th Precinct, proceed through a red light without activating its lights or sirens. [redacted] waited at the traffic signal, proceeding through it once it turned green, pulling up to a stop parallel to the police vehicle such that [redacted] car was on the right side. [redacted] told PO Dietzel and Police Officer Catherine Hernandez, who was sitting on the passenger seat, that they just illegally ran a red light, at which time PO Dietzel allegedly told [redacted] "I don't give a shit. Matter of fact, pull over" (Allegation A: Discourtesy, [redacted]). [redacted] pulled over near the intersection of Union Turnpike and 173rd Avenue. When [redacted] asked the reason for the stop, PO Dietzel told him that he was not wearing a seatbelt. [redacted] provided his ID, registration for his rental vehicle, and a PBA courtesy card which PO Dietzel immediately gave back to [redacted] indicating he did not want it. PO Dietzel prepared five New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law summonses – one valid for driving without a seatbelt, three retaliatory for horn used in absence of danger, dirty or covered license plate, and failure to signal lane change, as well as a retaliatory and unlawful summons for rear passengers without a seatbelt - gave [redacted] the summonses and his documents, requested and then kept [redacted] PBA card, told [redacted] to have a good day, turned around, and started walking towards the police vehicle (Allegation B: Abuse of Authority, [redacted] Allegation C: Abuse of Authority, [redacted]). As PO Dietzel was walking away, [redacted] allegedly asked PO Dietzel, "Officer, why are you being such a dick?" PO Dietzel and PO Hernandez both rushed to [redacted] driver-side window, asking him for his ID. [redacted] provided his ID, and PO Dietzel issued him a... Read report for details.