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.
'Unable to Determine': The alleged conduct was investigated but could not determine both that the conduct occurred and that it broke the rules.
'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.
'Within NYPD Guidelines': The conduct occurred but did not violate the NYPD's own rules, which often give officers significant discretion.
Further details on conclusions.
Named in 6 known lawsuits, $165,000 total settlements.
Melton, Darryl vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 163183/2025,
Supreme Court - New York, November 25, 2025
Mercado, Samuel et al. vs City of Ny et al.
Case # 814604/2021E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, December 29, 2021
Complaint
Description: On January 24, 2018, at approximately 1:00 a.m., inside the residential premises of 1715 Longfellow Avenue, The Bronx, New York, Plaintiffs, Mr. SAMUEL MERCADO and Ms. MARIBEL RIVERA, were illegally stopped, searched, seized, arrested and detained by defendants, police officers, detectives, sergeants, lieutenants, inspectors or other supervisory officers, employed by the NYPD. Plaintiff, Mr. Samuel Mercado (“Mr. Mercado”), is a Black, African American, Hispanic or Latino male, and Plaintiff, Ms. Maribel Rivera (“Ms. Rivera”), is an African American, Black, Latina or Hispanic female. The defendants did not possess a judicially authorized warrant to arrest Plaintiffs and did not possess a lawfully obtained searc...
Vasquez, Marco vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 030630/2020E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, September 21, 2020, ended October 8, 2021
$20,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about July 13, 2019 at approximately 1:00 a.m. in the area of West Fordham Road and University Avenue Plaintiff was lawfully present when an unnamed PO arrived, approached, questioned, detained, and searched Plaintiff without legal justification. Plaintiff was ultimately arrested on the basis of false PO accusations. The officer and other POs (listed Defendants are Det. James R. Causa, Sgt. Vicente E. Perez, Undercover Officer 368, Det. Daniel Rivera, and John and James Doe) withheld their names and defaced a property receipt so their names could not be derived from it. Plaintiff's arrest was motivated by arrest quotas, and POs John and James Doe failed to intercede despite knowing the arrest was unlawful...
Johnson, J-Quan vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV06915,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, September 14, 2015
Complaint,
Second Amended Complaint
Description: Plaintiff was attending a block party and was on crutches after he underwent surgery on his Achilles tendon. Defendant Officers began dispersing the crowd and Plaintiff was crutching away when officer Powell pushed somebody into him, then slapped him. All Officers began to assault him with their fists and batons , causing severe damage to his injury, and dragged him for a block. Plaintiff was taken to the hospital and charged with Assault in the Second Degree.
Brooks, Andre, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV07495,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, November 6, 2013, ended January 15, 2015
$55,000 Settlement
Complaint,
Second Amended Complaint,
Stipulation
Description: On the night of August 25 and 26, 2012, Plaintiffs Brooks and Clark were lawfully present at the entrance of Hylan Park. Defendants, NYPD Officers Flores, Schantz, Imbert, Perez, Arana and Tiburcio, stopped Plaintiffs at gunpoint. Defendants directed Plaintiffs to lie on the ground, handcuffed them and arrested them. Defendants then searched plaintiffs' bodies via pat-down and searched their pockets. Plaintiffs were lying on the ground for 30 minutes. The defendant officers did not have a warrant authorizing the arrest of plaintiffs. Plaintiffs were then transported to the precinct and then subsequently to Bronx Central Booking where they were imprisoned until August 27, 2012. They were released without being c...
Fort, Andrew vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 306368/2012,
Supreme Court - Bronx, August 28, 2012, ended March 6, 2018
$90,000 Settlement