Erick A. Ortiz

Badge #3383, Hispanic Male
Former Detective Grade 2 at Narcotics Borough Manhattan North
Also served at 40th Precinct
Service started February 1994, ended June 2022, Tax #906986

Substantiated Allegations:
Force: Dragged/Pulled

Lawsuit Settlements:
$60,000   Tucker, Theodore vs City of New York, et al., 2015 NYCSC NYCSC 161282/2014
$25,000   Vasquez, David vs City of New York, et al., 2014 SDNY SDNY 14CV03333
$25,000   Ruiz, Christopher vs City of New York, et al., 2013 NYCSC NYCSC 161394/2013
$20,001   Garnett, Kwame vs City of New York, et al., 2013 SDNY SDNY 13CV07083
$45,000   Williams, Enid, et al. vs City of New York, et al., 2013 SDNY SDNY 13CV05599
$25,000   Vargas, Jamel vs City of New York, et al., 2013 SDNY SDNY 13CV00361
$50,000   Velasquez, Juan vs City of New York, et al., 2012 SDNY SDNY 12CV03047
$17,500   Amiker, Darryl vs City of New York, et al., 2011 SDNY SDNY 11CV02446
$30,000   Rivera v. The City of New York, SDNY SDNY 10CV04221
$4,000   Pinks v. New York City et al, SDNY SDNY 10CV08384
$22,500   Amiker v. The City of New York et al, SDNY SDNY 07CV03554
View Details

Complaints

6 Complaints
13 Allegations
1 Substantiated
1 Substantiated (Charges)
2 Complainant Uncooperative
5 Exonerated
1 Unfounded
4 Unsubstantiated

Complaint #201015968, November 2010
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #200702610, February 2007
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question and/or stop
Complainant: Black Male, 24
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Force: Physical force
Complainant: Black Male, 24
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 24
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #200611856, August 2006
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical)
Complainant: Black Male, 24
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
Complainant: Black Male, 24
CCRB Conclusion: Complainant Uncooperative
additional details

Complaint #200409711, August 2004
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Question and/or stop
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 39
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Search (of person)
Complainant: Hispanic Female, 39
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #9900560, February 1999
Allegation: Force: Other - Force
CCRB Conclusion: Unfounded
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Person Searched
CCRB Conclusion: Exonerated
additional details

Complaint #9803531, August 1998
Allegation: Force: Dragged/Pulled
CCRB Conclusion: Substantiated (Charges)
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Property damaged
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Allegation: Discourtesy: Profane Gesture
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
additional details

Complaint #201015968, November 2010
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Premises entered and/or searched Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #200702610, February 2007
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Question and/or stop Black Male, 24 Exonerated
Force: Physical force Black Male, 24 Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 24 Unsubstantiated
additional details
Complaint #200611856, August 2006
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Threat of force (verbal or physical) Black Male, 24 Complainant Uncooperative
Discourtesy: Word Black Male, 24 Complainant Uncooperative
additional details
Complaint #200409711, August 2004
Allegation Complainant CCRB Conclusion
Abuse of Authority: Question and/or stop Hispanic Female, 39 Exonerated
Abuse of Authority: Search (of person) Hispanic Female, 39 Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #9900560, February 1999
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Force: Other - Force Unfounded
Abuse of Authority: Person Searched Exonerated
additional details
Complaint #9803531, August 1998
Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Force: Dragged/Pulled Substantiated (Charges)
Abuse of Authority: Property damaged Unsubstantiated
Discourtesy: Profane Gesture Unsubstantiated
additional details

Conclusion Meanings:

'Exonerated': or 'Within NYPD Guidelines' - The conduct occurred but did not violate the NYPD's own rules, which often give officers significant discretion.
'Substantiated': The misconduct occurred and it violated the rules. The NYPD has discretion over what, if any, discipline is imposed.
'Unfounded': Evidence suggests that the event or alleged conduct did not occur.
'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 17 known lawsuits, $324,001 total settlements.

Steinbergin, Troy vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 159315/2021, Supreme Court - New York, October 25, 2021, ended April 12, 2023
Zero Disposition
Complaint
Description: Robert Frank, and Undercover Officers No. 0076 and 0039. The Defendants did such despite the Plaintiff not committing any illegal acts, not being accused of any wrongdoing by any witnesses, no probable cause, or any legal justification. The defendants then unlawfully stopped the Plaintiff by grabbing his body and limbs. They then physically restrained the plaintiff, violently contorted the Plaintiff's arms behind their back, placed the Plaintiff's hands in metal handcuffs, and caused the Plaintiff substantial injuries and pain to the Plaintiff's back, neck, arms, hands, and wrists. Despite Plaintiff telling the Defendants that the handcuffs were too tight and causing pain, the Defendants ignored Plaintiff's req...

Spruill, Jeremiah vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 21CV00181, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, January 26, 2021, ended March 21, 2025
Zero Disposition
Complaint
Description: On March 12, 2014, the Plaintiff was falsely arrested for selling drugs. Subsequently, due to false testimony, the plaintiff was convicted for 6 years in prison. In November 2018, the DA voluntarily dismissed all charges.

Priveterre, Stephen vs Charlson, Sean, et al.
Case # 14CV08841, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, July 15, 2015, ended August 5, 2016
Zero Disposition

Tucker, Theodore vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 161282/2014, Supreme Court - New York, March 12, 2015, ended February 16, 2016
$60,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On January 28, 2012, at approximately 12:30 p.m., the plaintiff, Theodore Tucker, was lawfully present in the vicinity of 1st Avenue and 105th Street, New York, and was subject to a stop by some of the defendants, certain New York police officers. The plaintiff was subsequently frisked and searched, questioned, and then arrested by the same police officers, without probable cause. The police officers did not find any illegal drugs, weapons or contraband from the search but the plaintiff was handcuffed and transported to 23rd precinct. The plaintiff was strip searched at the precinct, then fingerprinted, photographed and placed in a holding cell for several hours, before being transported to Manhattan Central Bo...

Vasquez, David vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV03333, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, June 18, 2014, ended November 21, 2014
$25,000 Settlement
Complaint, Stipulation
Description: Defendant Officers stopped Plaintiff on the street, threw him against a wall and handcuffed him excessively tight, took him to the 25th Precinct and strip-searched him. Plaintiff charged with unspecified charges which were later dismissed.

Ruiz, Christopher vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 161394/2013, Supreme Court - New York, December 17, 2013, ended November 22, 2017
$25,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On May 4, 2013, Plaintiff was touched, grabbed, handcuffed and arrested by defendants. The events that resulted in plaintiff's arrest began at 115th St between Park and Madison Aves, NY, NY, with defendants hitting plaintiff in an excessive manner about his person, causing physical pain and mental suffering necessitating medical treatment. Plaintiff was taken to New York Central Booking where charges were later dismissed when the DA declined to prosecute plaintiff as he had not committed any crimes.

Abraham, Cucuta vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV00558, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, October 30, 2013, ended May 9, 2014
Zero Disposition
Complaint

Garnett, Kwame vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV07083, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, October 16, 2013, ended November 21, 2014
$20,001 Order/Judgment (Verdict)
Complaint, Order
Description: Defendant Neftali Betances arrested plaintiff while he was playing games in an electronics store in connection with a buy-and-bust drug transaction that allegedly occurred across the street 10 minutes earlier in the presence of defendant Undercover Officer C0039. Plaintiff had no involvement in the alleged buy-and-bust drug transaction. Jury found plaintiff not guilty of the only charge against him--criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree. Following his acquittal, plaintiff was release from custody, after being incarcerated for nearly eight months at Rikers.

Williams, Enid, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV05599, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, August 14, 2013, ended June 9, 2014
$45,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On August 8, 2012, at approximately 6:00 a.m., in the County of New York, City and State of New York, plaintiffs were lawfully present inside of 345 East 101st Street, Apartment 8M (the "scene of the arrest"), when defendant Ortiz and the Doe defendants kicked in or otherwise loudly and forcibly entered through the front door of the apartment. Plaintiff James Sasser was a guest lawfully present in the apartment and the other plaintiffs live at the apartment. Although there was no legal basis to do so, the defendants began searching the premises. The search yielded no evidence of guns, drugs, or contraband. Inside of apartment, the defendants subjected plaintiff Enid Williams to excessive force by pushing her le...

Vargas, Jamel vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV00361, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, January 17, 2013, ended September 11, 2013
$25,000 Settlement
Complaint, Stipulation
Description: On February 23, 2012, Plaintiff was sleeping in his father’s apartment when NYPD officers executed a warrant by knocking down the front door. Defendant officer Erick Ortiz and others pushed Plaintiff to the ground, applied excessively tight handcuffs, and questioned him. Despite being a visitor with no knowledge of any criminal activity, Plaintiff was taken down to police van where he was thrown in, striking his face on the floor. Plaintiff was taken to the 25th Precinct where he was illegally strip searched and medical care denied. Defendant Officer Ortiz prepared false criminal charges involving narcotics as an amount was found in a bedroom, but Plaintiff was visiting from Pennsylvania and sleeping in the...

Velasquez, Juan vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 12CV03047, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, April 17, 2012, ended January 4, 2013
$50,000 Settlement
ID-2064, VELASQUEZ V. CITY OF NEW YORK, 12 CV 3047 PKC.PDF
Description: On August 20, 2010, plaintiff exited a store across the street from his home on East 102st. in Manhattan and was accosted by a young Hispanic female, later identified as defendant undercover officer. The undercover officer, dressed in very short shorts and other indicia of street prostitution, clutched his arm and begged him to sell her drugs. Plaintiff shook her off and walked on. She grabbed his arm again, pleading she was sick and needed the drugs. He shook himself free of her once more, yelling at her to stop bothering him; she was a mess; she should get into a program. He started across the street to get away from her. She screamed expletives at him, threatened him, called out that he didn't know who he wa...

Amiker, Darryl vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 11CV02446, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, April 19, 2011, ended February 11, 2012
$17,500 Settlement
Amended Complaint

Rivera v. The City of New York
Case # 10CV04221, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY
$30,000 Settlement
Complaint

Pinks v. New York City et al
Case # 10CV08384, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY
$4,000 Settlement
Complaint, Stipulation

Cucuta v. New York City Police Department et al
Case # 12CV05684, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY
Dismissed without Prejudice
Civil Judgment

Cucuta v. New York City Police Department et al
Case # 13CV01378, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY
Dismissed without Prejudice
Complaint

Amiker v. The City of New York et al
Case # 07CV03554, U.S. District Court - Southern District NY
$22,500 Settlement
Complaint, Stipulation