Incidents

    Incident 230

    Date Sep 01, 2012
    Department Buffalo Police Department
    Officers Joseph R. Hassett
    Description

    Officer Joseph Hassett maliciously and intentionally assaulted Adam Hamideh without provocation during a September 2012 arrest near 1425 Clinton St.

    Hamideh said he was he was painfully and seriously injured from the repeated blows and also suffered a shock to his nerves and nervous system and may have permanent defects.

    Outcome

    A civil case against the City of Buffalo was settled for $70,000. There has been no information publicly released about disciplinary action against officer Hassett.

    Address Clinton Street
    Buffalo, NY
     

    Incident 43

    Date Aug 10, 2012
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Francisco R. Santiago
    Description

    Two unarmed men were allegedly pursued and shot at by Officer Santiago

    Outcome

    None

    Address Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 191

    Date Jul 27, 2012
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Alex M. Jimenez
    Description

    According to No. 6:12-CV-6655T.REED v. SHEPPARD, officer Jimenez was one of several officers who entered the home of 532 Upper Falls Boulevard and allegedly conducted a warrantless search of a parolee. During the search, officers Cashman discovered a loaded handgun, and arrested the parolee and his girlfriend. The father and brother of the parolee instituted the action seeking money damages based on the warrantless search of the home.

    Outcome

    None, the Court finds that Jimenez is entitled to qualified immunity.

    Address Upper Falls Boulevard
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 150

    Date Jul 21, 2012
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Brian D. Flint
    Description

    According to IndyMedia, Officer Briant Flint was among several officers who arrested peaceful protesters on an East Avenue sidewalk. Flint arrested a person on the sidewalk livestreaming the arrests.

    Address East Ave
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 137

    Date Jul 21, 2012
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Thomas J. Minurka
    Description

    According to IndyMedia, Officer Thomas Minurka was involved in the arrest of protesters during a Black Lives Matter rally on East Ave.

    Address East Ave near Alexander St
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 23

    Date Jun 26, 2012
    Department Montpelier Police Department
    Officers Chad Bean , Kevin Moulton , Wade Cochran
    Description

    Officers responded to a domestic disturbance. While attempting to arrest an individual, Officer Bean used a wrist lock that broke the man's arm. The man died several months later with the Chief Medical Examiner determining the cause of death to be "sepsis due to surgical site infection . . . due to failed fixation of left humerus fracture due to blunt force injury of left arm" and characterized the manner of death as a homicide, stemming from an 'altercation with other(s).'"

    Address Pleasantview Street
    Montpelier, VT
     

    Incident 38

    Date Jun 24, 2012
    Time 03:00 AM
    Department Buffalo Police Department
    Officers Karl B. Schultz , Jason A. Whitenight
    Description

    Wilson Morales was shot by Buffalo police officers after a car chase on the city’s East Side. The bullet that struck Morales, then a 17-year-old student at WNY Maritime Charter School, instantly paralyzed him from the chest down.

    Outcome

    Morales, who is still recuperating, faces trial on charges of assaulting a police officer and unlawfully fleeing from a police officer.

    Buffalo’s Common Council authorized one of the largest lawsuit settlements in the city’s history: $4.5 million to Morales. A grand jury cleared Officer Karl B. Schultz and a partner at the time, Jason R. Whitenight, agreeing they fired in self-defense as the teenager backed the van he was driving toward Whitenight at the tail-end of a high-speed chase.

    Address Buffalo, NY
     

    Incident 181

    Date Jun 21, 2012
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Brian E. Cala
    Description

    On June 21, 2012, a 20 year-old man was gunned down by 7 officers near his house on Locust St. The civilian suffered from bipolar disorder and called the police on his birthday after he and his mother got into a scuffle. He was clearly suffering, according to witness accounts, and against the pleading of friends and family, the entire team of RPD opened fire and killed him. There was no provocation. One of the officers is Brian Cala.

    Outcome

    None

    Address Locust St near Dewey Ave
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 101

    Date Jun 21, 2012
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Antonio C. Gonzalez
    Description

    Gonzales was one of seven officers that shot and killed an individual. The man suffered from bipolar disorder and was armed. Some witnesses contradict police reports that the man aimed the gun at the police. The individual had called 911 after claiming he stabbed his mom.

    Outcome

    None of the officers were disciplined. victim sued the RPD but the case was dismissed.

    Address Locust St
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 98

    Date May 06, 2012
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Anthony Camilo
    Description

    While attempting to turn around on a marked path in his police vehicle, officer failed to observe a concrete barrier, and struck it, causing damage to the vehicle.

    Outcome

    Letter of Reprimand noting that this was his third avoidable police vehicle accident in 36 months.

    Address Beach Ave
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 146

    Date Apr 02, 2012
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Kevin C. Flanagan
    Description

    According to DavyVBlog, RPD Officer Kevin Flanagan, together with RPD Officers Richard Doran and Joel Hasper, drove the wrong way up a one way street, pulled up, and grabbed a man bringing him over to an RPD cruiser. As the civilian's family and neighbors questioned what was going on, the officers became angry and started pepper spraying onlookers (including a pregnant woman and an elderly woman in her 60s) and arrested some of them. They also pepper sprayed the man, tasered him multiple times, and beat him. They confiscated witnesses cell phones as well.

    Outcome

    The man who was arrested and assaulted was charged with resisting arrest and felony assault on a police officer. He was found innocent by a jury in April 2013.

    Address Flower St
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 139

    Date Apr 02, 2012
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Benjamin E. Mitchell
    Description

    According to Davy V. Blog, Officer Benjamin Mitchell shoved, pepper-sprayed, and confiscated the phone of a person who was placed under arrest.

    Address Flower St
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 169

    Date Dec 09, 2011
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Christopher W. Kosch
    Description

    According to the initial complaint, "on December 9, 2011, at approximately 1:35 p.m.," [Civilian] got out of his car on Avenue D and started to run from police. Police gave chase and he was ordered to the ground. [Civilian] complied and "laid face down on the ground." As he was complying, several officers, including Christopher Kosch and Nicholas Thomas, proceeded to "brutally attacked by the gathered officers." Each officer assaulted the civilian with their "hands, clubs or batons, cap shun, aerosol mace and/or pepper sprays, without justification or provocation." The complaint continues that the civilian was "also punched, kicked and struck with various objects about his head, face and body. After being handcuffed [civilian] was tasered repeatedly while laying on the ground. Other officer and superivsing officers present at the scene did nothing to stop this assault, use of excessive force and physical brutality."

    Because of the police assault on his body, the civilian "suffered cuts, lacerations, bruises, swelling and pain over his entire body. He also sustained swelling, pain and bleeding from his left eye." The complaint continues, "As a direct result of these circumstances, [civilian] left eye was surgically removed..."

    Outcome

    Right before the trial was to start, the city settled. There are no details as to what the settlement entailed.

    Address Avenue D
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 151

    Date Dec 09, 2011
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Brian D. Flint
    Description

    Brian Flint was one of six RPD officers who attacked a civilian as he exited a vehicle and complied with a directive to get on the ground according to a civil suit brought by the civilian. The six officers attacked the civilian using hands, batons, and pepper spray. After handcuffing him, officers tasered him while he was on the ground. The man lost his left eye as a result of the beating.

    Outcome

    The man received monetary damages for the civil suit.

    Address Avenue D
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 109

    Date Dec 09, 2011
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Jason Cropo
    Description

    According to Indymedia reporting on a lawsuit filed, Jason Cropo was among a group of officers who assaulted a civilian--the man got out of his car and started to run from police. Police ordered him to get on the ground; as he was complying, the officers proceeded to assault him with their "hands, clubs or batons, cap shun, aerosol mace and/or pepper sprays, without justification or provocation." The man was then tasered repeatedly while laying on the ground.

    Outcome

    Civil suit settled with the city--no details as to what the settlement entailed

    Address Avenue D
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 97

    Date Oct 26, 2011
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Anthony Camilo
    Description

    During a police investigation, Officer Camilo took possession of items stolen in a robbery. He placed these items on the hood of his police car and drove away. As a result of this action, evidence was lost.

    Outcome

    Letter of reprimand for failure to maintain custody and properly handle evidence.

    Address St Paul St near St Bridgets Dr
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 57

    Date Oct 13, 2011
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Randy J. Book
    Description

    According to Rochester IndyMedia, Randy Book shot and killed a 43 year old Black man from Barbados, in front of his wife and stepchildren. According to IndyMedia, Officer Book ordered the victim to drop a knife, but before the victim was even able to comply with the order, Book opened fire, shooting him a total of five times and hitting him three.

    Outcome

    None

    Address Columbia Ave
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 172

    Date Aug 05, 2011
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Jonathan C. Least
    Description

    Scratched the police car

    Address Lakeshore Blvd near Kings Hwy N
    Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 132

    Date Feb 26, 2011
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Ryan T. Hartley
    Description

    According to disciplinary files, officer conducted false arrest and unwarranted search

    Address Rochester, NY
     

    Incident 216

    Date Feb 11, 2011
    Department Rochester Police Department
    Officers Thomas A. Luciano
    Description

    According to Roc Indy Media, the victim was allegedly arrest by officers Gabriel Person and Thomas Luciano after filming the officers stopping and frisking a group of people of color. Police charged the victim with obstruction of governmental administration, failure to cross at a cross-walk, possession of a weapon, possession of marijuana, and disorderly conduct for refusing to give his name to an officer attempting to write him a ticket for jaywalking.

    Outcome

    None, The District Attorney, Elanor Biggers offered the victim a plea bargain; the victim would plead guilty to disorderly conduct and do 40 hours of community service. The victim also owed the court a surcharge of $120

    Address Monroe Ave
    Rochester, NY