This Cop Assaulted A Citizen, Lied About It, Got SUED and STILL GOT PROMOTED!

Summary

The video highlights an incident involving Mr. Simon, who was unlawfully detained and assaulted by NYPD officers while recording them. Despite the officers' false statements during the investigation, minimal disciplinary actions were taken. Mr. Simon's legal action, including filing a lawsuit, is praised for holding officers accountable for their unconstitutional behavior. The video underscores the need for better police accountability and reflects on Mr. Simon's calm response and determination to pursue justice. His efforts to document the incident and challenge the wrongful conduct are commendable, despite the minimal consequences for the officers involved.

Takeaways

• 😀 Officers were involved in a controversial incident where they detained Mr. Simon, allegedly without probable cause, leading to serious constitutional violations.
• 😀 Mr. Simon filed a lawsuit against the involved officers and the city, claiming assault, battery, false arrest, and violations of his First and Fourth Amendment rights.
• 😀 The officers involved in the incident, despite being found to have acted unconstitutionally, faced minimal punishment—vacation days forfeited—and one officer was promoted.
• 😀 The civilian complaint review board's investigation revealed that one officer had falsely amended their testimony about the event, attempting to cover up their actions.
• 😀 Mr. Simon successfully documented the encounter by filming it before officers forcibly took his phone and destroyed it, making efforts to hold the officers accountable.
• 😀 The initial claim by the officers about Mr. Simon photographing too close to them was later contradicted by their false testimonies and actions during the investigation.
• 😀 The officers' actions were deemed to be deliberately provocative, inciting a potential violent response from Mr. Simon, yet he responded with relative calm and legal action.
• 😀 The case highlights significant issues with police accountability and the lack of substantial consequences for officers involved in misconduct.
• 😀 Mr. Simon's lawsuit is still ongoing, and he continues to pursue justice through both legal representation and public documentation of the incident.
• 😀 Despite being assaulted, having his property damaged, and subjected to an unjust search, Mr. Simon's response was seen as reasonable, considering the circumstances and his legal rights.

Q & A

What was the main reason Mr. Simon was initially detained by the officers?

Mr. Simon was initially detained because a field intelligence officer believed he was involved in a hand-to-hand drug transaction, which they observed through the Argus camera system. However, this information alone does not confirm that the officers had probable cause to stop him.

What did Officer Fontana do wrong during the investigation of the incident?

Officer Fontana was found to have provided false official statements during the investigation. He amended his testimony to clarify that Mr. Simon was not allowed to photograph officers from a close distance, but could photograph from a distance. This was an attempt to revise his account of the incident.

How were the officers punished for their actions?

Officer Fontana was penalized by forfeiting 20 vacation days, while Officer Suazaras forfeited 10 vacation days. Suazaras, despite his involvement in the incident, was also promoted to Sergeant.

What legal action did Mr. Simon take following the incident?

Mr. Simon filed a civil lawsuit in New York State Court in October 2022, accusing the officers of assault, battery, false arrest, and violations of his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The case is still pending.

What was the civilian complaint review board's role in this incident?

The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) conducted an investigation into the incident and found that Officer Fontana had lied about key details during his testimony. They did not conclude that the initial arrest or search were improper, but they identified significant misconduct beyond the detention.

Why is the promotion of Officer Suazaras concerning?

Officer Suazaras's promotion is concerning because it suggests that officers who engage in misconduct and violate citizens' rights face minimal consequences, even when their actions are clearly unprofessional and unconstitutional.

What were the key violations committed by the officers during their interaction with Mr. Simon?

The officers violated Mr. Simon's First and Fourth Amendment rights by unlawfully detaining him, assaulting him, breaking his phone, and providing false statements about the incident. Their actions displayed a lack of professionalism and accountability.

How did Mr. Simon respond to the officers' actions during the encounter?

Mr. Simon remained relatively calm despite being assaulted and subjected to an intrusive search. He attempted to document the encounter before his phone was broken, and he filed a complaint the next day, later following up with a lawsuit.

Why is the lack of de-escalation in this situation particularly concerning?

The lack of de-escalation is concerning because the officers appeared to intentionally provoke a hostile response from Mr. Simon rather than trying to calm the situation. This shows poor judgment and a failure to handle the encounter professionally.

What is the significance of Mr. Simon invoking his right to remain silent during the encounter?

While invoking his right to remain silent could have potentially benefited Mr. Simon, it is acknowledged that this would have been a difficult task for an average citizen in a similar situation. The script suggests that Mr. Simon's response to the officers' behavior was reasonable under the circumstances.