Ariel Cruz

Badge #1114, Hispanic Male
Sergeant at 46th Precinct since August 2021, active
Service started January 2012, made $151,000 last year, Tax #951644

Substantiated Allegations:
Abuse of Authority: Frisk (2)
Abuse of Authority: Question
Abuse of Authority: Stop (3)
Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
Abuse of Authority: Unlawful Summons
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Discourtesy: Word

Discipline Cases:

Case: 2023-28792
Closed: 1/24/2024
Case: 2023-28786
Closed: 10/30/2023

View Details

Lawsuit settlements:
$15,000   Ortiz, Luis vs City of New York, et al., 2023 SDNY SDNY 22CV10655
$25,000   James, Kendale vs City of New York, et al., 2018 BCSC BCSC 023794/2018E
View Details

Complaints

5 Complaints
15 Allegations
10 Substantiated
3 Substantiated (Charges)
1 Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
6 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
1 Closed - Pending Litigation
1 Complainant Uncooperative
3 Within NYPD Guidelines

Complaint #202306916, July 2023
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 18-20
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #202204715, July 2022
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Male, 21-24
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Black Male, 21-24
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
NYPD Conclusion: Command Discipline - B
Penalty: Command Discipline - B (Vacation: 5 days)
additional details

Complaint #202203606, May 2022
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Male, 21-24
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Male, 21-24
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest
Complainant: Male, 21-24
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Unlawful Summons
Complainant: Male, 21-24
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Complainant: Male, 21-24
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop
Complainant: Male, 21-24
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question
Complainant: Male, 21-24
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
CCRB Conclusion: Within NYPD Guidelines
APU Case Status: Pending
Penalty: APU - Decision Pending
additional details

Complaint #202208690, April 2022
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 18-20
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 18-20
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Conclusion: APU Command Discipline A
APU Case Status: Closed: Retained, with discipline, October 2023
Penalty: Command Discipline A
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
NYPD Case Retained Letter
APU Quarterly Report summary
additional details

Complaint #201901834, February 2019
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 41
CCRB Conclusion: Closed - Pending Litigation
additional details

Complaint #202306916, July 2023
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Hispanic Male, 18-20 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #202204715, July 2022
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Male, 21-24 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Black Male, 21-24 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
NYPD Conclusion: Command Discipline - B
Penalty: Command Discipline - B (Vacation: 5 days)
additional details
Complaint #202203606, May 2022
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Male, 21-24 Within NYPD Guidelines
Discourtesy: Word Male, 21-24 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Abuse of Authority: Threat of arrest Male, 21-24 Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Abuse of Authority: Unlawful Summons Male, 21-24 Substantiated (Charges)
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Male, 21-24 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle stop Male, 21-24 Within NYPD Guidelines
Abuse of Authority: Question Male, 21-24 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Abuse of Authority: Stop Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Within NYPD Guidelines
APU Case Status: Pending
Penalty: APU - Decision Pending
additional details
Complaint #202208690, April 2022
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Stop Hispanic Male, 18-20 Substantiated (Charges)
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Hispanic Male, 18-20 Substantiated (Charges)
NYPD Conclusion: APU Command Discipline A
APU Case Status: Closed: Retained, with discipline, October 2023
Penalty: Command Discipline A
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
NYPD Case Retained Letter
APU Quarterly Report summary
additional details
Complaint #201901834, February 2019
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Force: Physical force Hispanic Male, 41 Closed - Pending Litigation
additional details

Conclusion Meanings:

'Substantiated': The alleged conduct occurred and it violated the rules. The NYPD has discretion over what, if any, discipline is imposed.
'Within NYPD Guidelines': The alleged conduct occurred but did not violate the NYPD's own rules, which often give officers significant discretion.

Further details on conclusion definitions.


Discipline

Case: 2023-28792
Closed: 1/24/2024
Case Details:
  1. Wrongfully frisked an individual known to the Department.
  2. Wrongfully stopped an individual known to the Department.
Penalty: B - Command Discipline, vacation days (5 days)
Recommendation: Command Discipline - B

Case: 2023-28786
Closed: 10/30/2023
Case Details:
  1. Wrongfully frisked an individual known to the Department.
  2. Wrongfully stopped an individual known to the Department.
Penalty: A - Command Discipline, vacation days (3 days)
Recommendation: Command Discipline - A


Lawsuits

Named in 5 known lawsuits, $40,000 total settlements.

Ortiz, Luis vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 22CV10655, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, January 10, 2023, ended August 1, 2023
$15,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On September 19, 2021, Plaintiff was driving what he believed was his friend's car on the road when two police cars boxed in Plaintiff's vehicle. Several officers aggressively rushed over, with guns-drawn, to Plaintiff's car. Plaintiff jumped out of the car and ran, fearful that the police would shoot him. He ran about one to two blocks before he was surrounded by multiple officers and police vehicles. He stopped running and put his hands in the air above his head. Although he had surrendered, some officers tasered him twice from behind. Other officers knew that the tasering was unnecessary and excessive, but they failed to intervene. Sargeant Ariel Cruz was a member of this group of officers. Plaintiff fell ch...

Johnson, Fabian vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 033861/2020E, Supreme Court - Bronx, November 18, 2020

Brijlall, Rohan vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 021554/2020E, Supreme Court - Bronx, February 4, 2020

James, Kendale vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 023794/2018E, Supreme Court - Bronx, April 4, 2018, ended May 30, 2019
$25,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On August 20th, 2017, Plaintiff Kendale James was on the street not acting improper or suspicious in any way. Defendant officer Ariel Cruz and other unnamed Defendant officers stopped Plaintiff James on the baiss of race and searched for illegal possessions. Defendant officers then grabbed Plaintiff using excessive physical force resulting in injuries to Plaintiff. Plaintiff James was seized and arrested based on false claims. While in the custody of Defendant officers, Plaintiff James was strip searched and incarcerated for over 24 hours until all charges against him were terminated favorably.

Bolden, Mikail vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 304626/2014, Supreme Court - Bronx, September 5, 2014