Conclusion Meanings:
'Exonerated': or 'Within NYPD Guidelines' - the alleged conduct occurred but did not violate the NYPD's own rules, which often give officers significant discretion.
'Unfounded': Evidence suggests that the event or alleged conduct did not occur.
'Unsubstantiated': or 'Unable to Determine' - CCRB has fully investigated but could not affirmatively conclude both that the conduct occurred and that it broke the rules.
Further details on conclusion definitions.
Named in 3 known lawsuits, $287,500 total settlements.
Arbelaez, Sebastian, et Al vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 17CV06543,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, August 29, 2017, ended January 13, 2020
$170,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Defendant officers from the Bronx Narcotics Unit forcibly entered Plaintiff's apartment with guns drawn and destructively and unreasonably searched it. Officers handcuffed all the Plaintiffs, brought them to the living room, and kept asking where the drugs were. Officers intentionally destroyed property, strip searched Plaintiffs, and took them into a room one by one to interrogate them. 3 Plaintiffs were arrested, taken to the 48th Precinct, and charged with Criminal use of drug paraphernalia in the second degree (N.Y.P.L. 220.50 (03)) and Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree (N.Y.P.L. 220.03). Criminal charges against all Plaintiffs were eventually dismissed.
Walker, Kenneth, Natural Guardian of Amir Walker vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 17CV04726,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, July 12, 2017, ended November 29, 2018
$105,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Plaintiff was driving with his 8-year-old son to his mother's house. When he pulled up to her house, he was approached by Sgt. Winrow, who was in plain clothes. He began to scream at the plaintiff, ordering him to get out of the vehicle. After the plaintiff got out of the car, Sgt. Winrow assaulted him in front of his son, and was then arrested. Plaintiff was charged with unspecified charges, got RoR, and was found not guilty in March 13, 2017.
Velez, Camilo vs P.O. Lipinski, Mack, et al.
Case # 15CV02137,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, March 23, 2015, ended August 5, 2015
$12,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On October 7, 2014, Plaintiff Camilo Velez saw his cousin, said hello and handed him a cigar. Defendant police officers Mack Lipinski, Brian Winrow, and John and Jane Does 1 through 10 approached Mr. Velez without probably cause or reasonable suspicion. Defendants opened Mr. Velez's pants and reached into them, conducting an illegal search. Though Defendants found nothing and Mr. Velez showed the officers the legal cigar that he had given his cousin, Defendants arrested Mr. Velez. At the precinct, Defendants falsely claimed and reported that they had observed Mr. Velez commit various crimes including possession and sale of a controlled substance, and that they had found marijuana in Mr. Velez's pocket. Pla...