Complaint #9900138,
January 10, 1999

Summary

On January 10, 1999, at approximately 3:40 PM, Ms. [redacted] and her friend, Ms. [redacted] were walking down Broadway. At West 140th Street and Broadway, PO Luparello walked up to them and asked if he could speak to them for a few minutes. They agreed and walked over to his RMP with him. He asked Ms. [redacted] what she was doing on that block and if she had been in a deli at all that day. Ms. [redacted] explained that she did not know anything what he was talking about. PO Luparello's partner, PO Kane, took Ms. [redacted] purse and he and PO Luparello looked through it. Ms. [redacted] said that she helped them look through it, because she had nothing to hide. Ms. [redacted] was sitting on the hood of a car parked next to the RMP and crying. PO Mercedes Brown arrived on the scene. PO Brown frisked Ms. [redacted] and patted her down and asked her if she had any sharp objects in her pockets that might stick her. Ms. [redacted] said, "No," and then PO Brown started searching her. During the search, PO Brown accused Ms. [redacted] of making some sort of transaction. Ms. [redacted] is still not sure what type of transaction PO Brown was referring to. Ms. [redacted] asked PO Brown what was going on. PO Brown said, "None of your fucking business." Then she made Ms. [redacted] take off her boots and she shook them out. PO Brown then commented on how tight Ms. [redacted] jeans were and asked her if she had a yeast infection. PO Brown then made Ms. [redacted] undo two or three buttons on her shirt, so she could check her bra. Ms. [redacted] was very embarrassed, because she was still standing outside in front of everyone. PO Brown continually shook Ms. [redacted] around. She grabbed Ms. [redacted] by the wrist and jerked her around forcefully. Ms. [redacted] kept asking PO Brown what this was all about, but she just said, "Shut the fuck up." Ms. [redacted] was placed in the RMP until the prisoner van arrived. Then she was placed inside the van. Two male officers, who were in the van, asked her for her name and address.... Read report for details.