Michael Pomerantz (Chad Rachman/New York Post)
Four city cops offered their side of the story yesterday to counter claims that they took “stop and frisk” too far.
The cops took the witness stand in Manhattan federal court during a hearing into the “Operation Clean Halls” program, which lets the NYPD patrol crime-ridden apartment buildings.
Plaintiffs in the case charge that cops systematically violate people’s rights by stopping them outside Clean Halls buildings on suspicion of trespassing.
But three cops testified they had reasonable suspicion to stop two plaintiffs who exited Clean Halls buildings in high-crime Bronx neighborhoods; the fourth denied a plaintiff’s claim that he was stopped by the cop earlier this year.
Testimony is expected to conclude today, with Judge Shira Scheindlin set to hear closing arguments on Nov. 5.
KIERON RAMDEEN, 46th Precinct
‘I observed Mr. [Abdullah] Turner for approximately two to three minutes inside the lobby pacing . . . seemingly aimlessly, just wandering around looking up the stairs, looking back down the stairs . . ., continually pacing.
“After I observed him for approximately two to three minutes, I then exited the vehicle and approached the building.
“As I approached, Mr. Turner had his back towards the door. As we approached the door, he then turned and faced the door. Upon seeing us, he . . . exited the lobby . . . of the building and was directly in front of 2020 Davidson [Ave.]”
“I asked Mr. Turner if he lived in the building. He then replied, ‘No.’ I then asked him does he know anyone in the building. He also replied, ‘No.’
“I asked him what he was doing in the building and . . . in sum and substance, he responded with, “I am not going to lie, officer, I just came with my friend. She went upstairs to buy weed . . . I don’t know what floor she is on. I don’t know what apartment she’s in.”
“Shortly after his statements, I put Mr. Turner under arrest . . . inside of 2020 Davidson.
“He was charged with trespassing . . . I based the charges on the fact that he had no lawful reason to be in the building and that he knowingly was there to buy marijuana.”
MICHAEL POMERANTZ, 46th Precinct
‘I’m not sure if we were driving up the block or if we parked in front of the building first, but at one point, I don’t know, but I noticed an individual in the lobby right behind the front door of the building.
“When we approached the building, we had a conversation with Mr. Turner in which . . . basically, we talked to [Turner] about his business in the building, what he had been doing in there, and he explained to us or he told us that he was waiting for his friend, a female, she was upstairs buying marijuana. And shortly after that, we placed him under arrest.”
“Basically, at some point during our interaction with Mr. Turner, Ms. [Anginette] Trinidad came from the building. I couldn’t even tell you right now whether or not she approached me or I approached her, although I think I was occupied with Mr. Turner.
“I had a brief conversation with her. After I realized that she was the person Mr. Turner had been speaking of, I don’t remember exactly the way the conversation went, but in the course of it, she produced a gravity knife and a small quantity of marijuana and she was subsequently placed under arrest as well.”
LUIS RODRIGUEZ, 44th Precinct
‘Since I have been assigned to the School Unit, my responsibilities are to respond to radio calls within and around the vicinity of the schools and also to patrol the areas off the schools to seek out and look out for possible truants in the area.
“Depending on the circumstances, we’ll bring that truant to the truant center located in The Bronx, or we could bring that truant back to school.
“Since I have been assigned to the school unit, I patrol that area every day. In my current work duty, I see [plaintiff] Jovan Jefferson outside every day, outside of Taft High School, that is.”
City lawyer Mark Zuckerman: You heard him testify that you stopped him sometime between April and June of 2012, correct?
“Yes.”
Zuckerman: Was that testimony accurate?
“No.”
MIGUEL SANTIAGO, 43rd Precinct
‘We were parked there [in an undercover van] in the middle of the block in front of 1527 Taylor Ave.
“Well, we were there about a half hour before we encountered [plaintiff] Mr. Charles Bradley. He was walking back and forth in front of the location.
“I took my eyes off him, I was looking at something else up in the block. And when I came back to look at him, he was already inside the building, he was already in the vestibule.
“Basically I saw [plaintiff] Mr. [Charles] Bradley going back and forth, disappear for one or two seconds, come back, back and forth, disappear and exit out the building.
“He exited out the building. At that point I got out of my vehicle, I approached Mr. Bradley. I said, ‘Excuse me, sir, could you come over here?’ He came over here toward me in front of the vehicle. I asked him: ‘What were you doing in the building?’
“He told me he went to visit his girlfriend.
“I asked: ‘What apartment?’
“He doesn’t know.
“I asked him: ‘What floor?’ He doesn’t know. I asked him: ‘Do you live in the building?’ He told me, ‘No.’ And I asked him for ID. He couldn’t produce no ID.”