Introduction to the Incident
A Bronx moped rider is suing the NYPD, claiming officers deliberately crashed their police car into him, and then lied about the incident on official reports.
According to a lawsuit filed this week, Delonny Davis, the operator of the moped, suffered partial hearing loss in August of 2023, after an unmarked NYPD car slammed into his bike and sent him crashing onto the vehicle window.
Allegations Against the NYPD
“The police don’t have the authority, or should not have the power, to use their vehicles as weapons,” said Andrew Celli, Jr., one of the attorneys representing the moped rider. The moped rider’s legal team conceded Davis’s bike had no license plate, as required by law, and that he was briefly traveling the wrong way in a one-way bike lane on East 2nd Street in Manhattan after accidentally overshooting his destination. But Davis’s lawyers said traffic infractions involving vehicle registration should never justify such a dangerous driving maneuver.
Response to Traffic Infractions
“If somebody is violating a minor law, they are entitled to be ticketed. They are entitled to be called to account. They’re not entitled to be collided with and crushed,” Celli said. “I was horrified that a member of the NYPD felt entitled to act in such a manner,” said Wylie Stecklow, another attorney representing the moped driver. The lawsuit also alleges officers “fabricated evidence” when they drafted a criminal complaint alleging that the moped “crashed into a police vehicle that was attempting to avoid the collision.”
Surveillance Video Evidence
Surveillance video provided by the moped driver’s legal team appears to show the police vehicle veering into the bike lane, initiating the collision. “They know what they were doing was wrong and that’s why they lied about it,” Stecklow said. An NYPD spokesperson declined to answer specific questions about the incident but did send the I-Team a one-sentence email. “The incident is under review and the disciplinary process is ongoing,” the email read.
NYPD’s Community Response Team
According to the lawsuit, the officers involved in the crash were part of the NYPD’s Community Response Team (CRT), a specialized unit dedicated to removing thousands of illegal mopeds, dirt bikes, and ATVs from city streets. Last year, a report by the NYC Department of Investigation found the CRT had “no trainings created specifically for CRT officers,” and “no policies, procedures or operations guides.” Earlier this year, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has announced new rules restricting vehicle pursuits to only the most serious crimes.
Conclusion
The incident highlights concerns about police conduct and the use of force in situations involving minor traffic infractions. The lawsuit against the NYPD seeks to hold officers accountable for their actions and to prevent similar incidents in the future. As the disciplinary process is ongoing, it remains to be seen how the NYPD will respond to the allegations and what measures will be taken to address the issues raised by the lawsuit.
FAQs
- Q: What is the basis of the lawsuit against the NYPD?
A: The lawsuit alleges that NYPD officers deliberately crashed their police car into a moped rider and then lied about the incident on official reports. - Q: What injuries did the moped rider suffer as a result of the incident?
A: The moped rider, Delonny Davis, suffered partial hearing loss. - Q: What is the NYPD’s Community Response Team (CRT) responsible for?
A: The CRT is a specialized unit dedicated to removing thousands of illegal mopeds, dirt bikes, and ATVs from city streets. - Q: What is the current status of the incident?
A: The incident is under review and the disciplinary process is ongoing.
