NYPD officer faces 13 counts of assault and menacing for on-duty incidents

SUNSET PARK/DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — A POLICE OFFICER WAS CHARGED WITH ASSAULT, MENACING and official misconduct that he allegedly committed while on duty, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

The investigation shows that the defendant, 42-year-old Quran McPhatter, who works at the 72nd Precinct in Sunset Park, was called out by a civilian for driving unsafely in the park around 41st Street and Fifth Avenue in August 2025. The defendant told the civilian to mind his own business, but the civilian asked for his name and badge number before the officer pepper-sprayed and almost knocked down the civilian. The second incident involved a 60-year-old man whom the same officer allegedly accused of trespassing. The officer placed this person in the car, grabbed his glasses and slapped him.

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu presided over McPhatter’s arraignment, which includes a 13-charge indictment. He was released without bail and ordered to return to court on March 25, 2026.

Gonzalez said, “Instead of using the de-escalation techniques NYPD officers are trained to employ, this defendant allegedly assaulted a person in custody and threatened a civilian who complained.” Gonzalez emphasized the need to maintain trust between the NYPD and the public.

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