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, $68,000 total settlements.
Jimenez, Domonique vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 814639/2025E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, July 10, 2025
Gumaneh, Mahmadu vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 806471/2023E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, April 25, 2023
Complaint
Description: On January 12, 2019, Plaintiff was sitting inside a car when he ordered to step out by POs Richard Castellano, Andrew Sokolohorsky and John Does. Plaintiff was struck in the face, body, and thrown to the ground. POs then proceeded to strike Plaintiff numerous times to his face, head and body with hard objects. POs then tazed Plaintiff. Plaintiff sustained serious physical injury. Plaintiff was arrested, despite not having engaged in any illegal or unlawful behavior, and charged. Charges were later dismissed.
Pierce, George vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 19CV02405,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, April 1, 2019, ended March 15, 2020
$8,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On August 11, 2018, around 11:30 pm, Officers Francis, Boyer, Ramunno, Castellano, Felipe, and Perez approached Mr. Pierce in front of his residence and began harassing him and three individuals he was speaking to. One of the officers asked Mr. Pierce to see his identification and, while his wife went inside to get his identification, the officer ran Mr. Pierce's name and falsely claimed there was a warrant out for his arrest.
The officers arrested Mr. Pierce, handcuffed him, and transported him to the precinct. The officers charged him with acting disorderly, and Mr. Pierce had to show up in court as a result. When he arrived in court, all of the charges were dismissed.
Dominguez, Linda vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 020841/2019,
Supreme Court - Bronx, January 23, 2019, ended November 20, 2020
$30,000 Settlement
Santiago, Aaron vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 034034/2018E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, December 14, 2018, ended August 10, 2020
$20,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On July 14, 2018, at approximately 12:00 a.m., in the vicinity of Nelson Avenue and West 166th Street, County of Bronx, State of New York, NYPD Officers Michael Menses (Shield No. 11225), Richard Castellano (Shield No. 25087) and John Doe, absent an arrest warrant, probable cause, reasonable cause or any legal justification, approached Plaintiff Aaron Santiago for no reason, and based on fraud, perjury and misrepresentations, stopped, searched, grabbed, assaulted, battered, and detained him in an aggressive and excessive manner. Plaintiff alleges that this stop was a part of New York City's "Stop and Frisk" policy and that it was racially motivated. Plaintiff was subjected to a strip search while in the cust...
Mitchell, Albert vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 302460/2016,
Supreme Court - Bronx, September 9, 2016, ended October 15, 2019
$10,000 Settlement