February 28, 2018, Following an unlawful traffic stop in Staten Island, New York video allegedly captures the planting of drug paraphernalia by a New York City Police Officer on Jason Serrano. At the center of the controversy are NYPD police officers Elmer Pastran, and Kyle Erickson.
While wearing department-issued, functioning body cameras, the two officers conducted a non-consent search of the vehicle occupied by four black males. Their body cameras capture the entire exchange, except when officer Elmer Pastran purports to find what appears to be marijuana wrapped in cigar paper. Officer Elmer Pastran indicated in his police report that the marijuana cigar was “lit, and in plain view.”
However, the body camera footage fails to show a lit cigar anywhere in the vehicle, at any time.
A statement issued by the NYPD said: “the officers acted properly.” NYPD’s false narrative only lends credence to the fear held by many African Americans, their targets of the police simply driving while black.
Although Serrano pled guilty to possession of marijuana his conviction was later overturned, and dismissed by Judge Tamiko Amaker in October of 2021. And the officers involved continue to roam the streets looking for additional black males to harass, frame, and arrest.
Editors notes: 90 percent of Staten Island police officers are white, making it the least diverse police officers in New York City.