Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez says an NYPD officer from Sunset Park was indicted on multiple charges, including assault, for two on-duty incidents.
Quaran McPhatter, 42, an officer for the 72nd Precinct, is accused of assaulting a person in custody and threatening a civilian.
Prosecutors say the first incident happened inside Sunset Park, near 41st Street between Fifth and Seventh Avenues, on Aug. 3, 2025, around 6:45 p.m.
A civilian allegedly "saw an NYPD patrol car driving unsafely through a crowded area in the park" and yelled at McPhatter to slow down, who proceeded to get out of the car and tell the civilian to mind their business.
When asked for his badge number, McPhatter allegedly opened the door, almost striking the person before spraying pepper-spray on the ground and threatening to "knock out" the civilian, according to the indictment.
The second incident occurred while McPhatter and his partner were arresting a 60-year-old man for trespassing on Oct. 24, 2025, near 140 58th St. During the arrest, the officers allegedly berated the man and threw him against the patrol car twice.
At the 72nd Precinct, McPhatter is accused of calling the man in custody a "big dummy," and when the man responded, McPhatter allegedly slapped the man in the face with an open hand.
"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," said DA Gonzalez. "Trust between law enforcement and the public is essential to sustaining the hard-won gains that have driven homicide and gun violence in Brooklyn to record lows, and we will not allow an officer's alleged misconduct to put our progress at risk. No one is above the law, and we will seek to hold him accountable through this prosecution."
Gonzalez says McPhatter is charged with assault, official misconduct, attempted assault, attempted coercion and menacing.
McPhatter was arraigned Tuesday and released without bail. He will be back in court March 25.