Fidel G. Santiago

Badge #379, Hispanic Male, 39
Sergeant at Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force since February 2025
Service started July 2011, made $189,000 last year, Tax #951205

Substantiated Allegations:
Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Abuse of Authority: Stop
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search

Lawsuit Settlements:
$30,000   Ray, Laquan, et al. vs City of Ny, et al., 2021 NYCSC NYCSC 154033/2021
$42,500   Torres, Jordan vs City of New York, et al., 2016 SDNY SDNY 16CV07257
$20,000   Gonzalez, Melissa vs City of New York, et al., 2016 SDNY SDNY 15CV10142
$22,000   Emanuel, Taijhon, et al. vs City of New York, et al., 2015 SDNY SDNY 15CV01205
$80,000   Danso, Daniel, et Al vs Santiago, Fidel, et al., 2012 BCSC BCSC 021398/2012
View Details

Complaints

7 Complaints
17 Allegations
3 Substantiated
2 Substantiated (Formalized Training)
1 Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
6 Closed - Pending Litigation
2 Complainant Uncooperative
3 Unable to Determine
3 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #202300225, January 2023
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to process civilian complaint
CCRB Conclusion: Unable to Determine
additional details

Complaint #202203816, June 2022
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Obstructed Shield Number
Complainant: Black Male, 18-20
CCRB Conclusion: Unable to Determine
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to show search warrant
Complainant: Black Male, 18-20
CCRB Conclusion: Unable to Determine
additional details

Complaint #201809854, September 2018
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 23
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 23
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201804310, May 2018
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Male, 28
CCRB Conclusion: Closed - Pending Litigation
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Male
CCRB Conclusion: Closed - Pending Litigation
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
Complainant: Male
CCRB Conclusion: Closed - Pending Litigation
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
Complainant: Male
CCRB Conclusion: Closed - Pending Litigation
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 28
CCRB Conclusion: Closed - Pending Litigation
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number
Complainant: Male
CCRB Conclusion: Closed - Pending Litigation
additional details

Complaint #201703484, May 2017
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Refusal to show search warrant
Complainant: Female, 23
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #201508108, September 2015
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Stop
Complainant: Black Male, 17
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Penalty: Formalized Training
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #201500911, February 2015
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 31
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Formalized Training)
NYPD Conclusion: Charges and Specifications - Guilty
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Frisk
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 31
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Formalized Training)
NYPD Conclusion: Formalized Training
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Hispanic Male, 31
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Penalty: Formalized Training / Command Level Instructions
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Complaint #202300225, January 2023
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to process civilian complaint Unable to Determine
additional details
Complaint #202203816, June 2022
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Obstructed Shield Number Black Male, 18-20 Unable to Determine
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to show search warrant Black Male, 18-20 Unable to Determine
additional details
Complaint #201809854, September 2018
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Stop Hispanic Male, 23 Unsubstantiated
Force: Physical force Hispanic Male, 23 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #201804310, May 2018
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Male, 28 Closed - Pending Litigation
Abuse of Authority: Stop Male Closed - Pending Litigation
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Male Closed - Pending Litigation
Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched Male Closed - Pending Litigation
Force: Physical force Black Male, 28 Closed - Pending Litigation
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to provide name/shield number Male Closed - Pending Litigation
additional details
Complaint #201703484, May 2017
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched Complainant Uncooperative
Abuse of Authority: Refusal to show search warrant Female, 23 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #201508108, September 2015
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Stop Black Male, 17 Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
Penalty: Formalized Training
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details
Complaint #201500911, February 2015
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Vehicle search Hispanic Male, 31 Substantiated (Formalized Training)
NYPD Conclusion: Charges and Specifications - Guilty
Abuse of Authority: Frisk Hispanic Male, 31 Substantiated (Formalized Training)
NYPD Conclusion: Formalized Training
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Hispanic Male, 31 Unsubstantiated
Penalty: Formalized Training / Command Level Instructions
Documents: Complaint Closing Report
additional details

Conclusion Meanings:

'Substantiated': The misconduct occurred and it violated the rules. The NYPD has discretion over what, if any, discipline is imposed.
'Unable to Determine': The alleged conduct was investigated but could not determine both that the conduct occurred and that it broke the rules.
'Unsubstantiated': or 'Unable to Determine' - The alleged conduct was investigated but could not determine both that the conduct occurred and that it broke the rules.

Further details on conclusions.


Lawsuits

Named in 7 known lawsuits, $194,500 total settlements.

Simmons, Christian vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 155246/2021, Supreme Court - New York, June 2, 2021
Complaint
Description: On June 21, 2019, police officers Albert Krasniqi, Fidel Santiago and 10 other unnamed officers illegally entered plaintiff's apartment. Without showing a warrant, the officers searched the living room, and then entered plaintiff's bedroom and unlawfully questioned plaintiff regarding illegal activity. The officers grabbed the plaintiff and physically restrained and removed him by rear handcuffing him in an excessively tight fashion. The officers then left plaintiff in the living room with his wrists handcuffed, while searching his bedroom. Further, the officers opened plaintiff's deceased mother's urn and searched inside the urn, causing severe emotional distress to plaintiff. Plaintiff was then arrested and t...

Ray, Laquan, et al. vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 154033/2021, Supreme Court - New York, May 6, 2021, ended June 15, 2023
$30,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On May 20, 2020, while lawfully present outside the residential building at 107 E 126th Street in New York, NY, the plaintiffs were unlawfully approached, searched, arrested, and detained by the defendants, including Fidel Santiago, Raymond Curbelo, and John Does 1-6, without legal justification. Despite finding no contraband and having no reasonable basis or probable cause, the defendants arrested the plaintiffs, who had committed no crime. After their arrest, the plaintiffs were taken to an NYPD precinct and eventually released without any charges. During his arrest, plaintiff Mr. Ray, who was suffering from serious cancer and required regular medication, was denied access to his prescribed cancer medication,...

Ross, Anthony vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 159242/2018, Supreme Court - New York, October 10, 2018
Complaint
Description: On May 17, 2018 at approximately 8 pm, Plaintiff emerged from his neighborhood bodega and was standing among people when 2 unmarked police cars pulled up. Plaintiff and his friend walked away and the driver of the police vehicle pulled the car in front of them. Defendant, NYPD officer Palmer stopped Plaintiff asked where he was going and told Plaintiff he would search him. Plaintiff refused and asked why he was being searched. Defendant Palmer refused to answer him and started aggressively searching Plaintiff, specifically his neck, shoulders, arms, chest and waistband and aggressively grabbed Plaintiff's genital demanding that Plaintiff produce a gun. Plaintiff said he did not have a gun. Defendant handcuffed ...

Torres, Jordan vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 16CV07257, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, September 29, 2016, ended May 8, 2017
$42,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: The plaintiff entered the building after midnight and without warning was struck in the face by a walkie-talkie by the defendant officer. The plaintiff was then taken to the nearby precinct prior to the hospital and now suffers permanent damage. No charges were stated in the complaint.

Gonzalez, Melissa vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV10142, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, January 7, 2016, ended June 16, 2017
$20,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint, Complaint
Description: Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle that the NYPD attempted to pull over. The vehicle fled for a little bit and then the driver got out and ran away. Plaintiff had no control over the vehicle but was still arrested for 120.20, Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, and 205.30, Resisting Arrest, which were ACD'd.

Emanuel, Taijhon, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV01205, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, March 5, 2015, ended October 15, 2015
$22,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On March 15, 2013 at 3:18 A.M at the intersection of 125th street and Broadway , NY , Plaintiffs were passengers in a taxi with another passenger , Julian Rivera. The taxi was pulled over by an unmarked car operated by officer's Urbanek and Santiago. Plaintiffs were not committing nay crime at this time , simply passengers in a taxi. The officer's approached the taxi to speak with the passengers. Urbanek approached the side of the taxi where Julian Rivera was seated and opened the door. Urbanek ordered Rivera out of the taxi . According to the sworn testimony of P.O. Urbanek, Rivera exited the vehicle , he reached into his pocket and retrieved a pistol, which he threw on the seat of the vehicle. The pistol ...

Danso, Daniel, et Al vs Santiago, Fidel, et al.
Case # 021398/2012, Supreme Court - Bronx, July 9, 2012, ended July 31, 2013
$80,000 Settlement