By CJ, a Jewish resident of Crown Heights
The incident occurred at 11:11pm 6/19/13, as I drove around the corner from Union St. onto Schenectady Ave.
There was a spot open so I placed my car in position to back in. About halfway into my turn an African American girl placed herself behind my car blocking me from finishing to park.
After honking my horn a few times I realized she wasn’t going to move because she was trying to save the spot for someone else. Sure enough, 5 minutes later another car pulled up and blocked me from behind. At that moment I placed a call to 911 explaining that there was a dispute and no one was hurt.
Now for all of you who are going to say you should’ve just left, stop reading and close the screen – this story is not for you. As a lifetime New Yorker, I know how hard it is to find a parking space this late at night, so I stood my ground thinking that the law will prevail and honost people will always win.
However, this also being NYC, thats not what happened. The cops came about 30 minutes after placing the call. It was a cruiser from the 71st pct, 2 African American police officers, one male and one female. The male seemed to be in charge and walked past my car and immediately headed for the 2 African American complainants.
After he spoke to them for a few minutes, I stepped out of my car, hoping for a chance to speak with him and explain my side of the story. Instead, what transpired was something I never expected from a law enforcement professional.
He immediately began to yell at me, barking orders like a Drill Sargent. Instead of treating me with respect and a mature adult, he treated me like I was a child who was having a fight over a toy. His decree? “Since both you of can’t have the spot, none of you can have it right away. Instead, you both have to drive around the block, and whoever gets back here first will get it!”
His partner took up watch again, standing behind my car, not allowing me to finish parking, and let the other parties pull away. He then began yelling at me to leave. When I tried to reason with him he wouldn’t hear it. I asked him to be a reasonable man and consider the fact that my car was already halfway parked.
But he only yelled louder and began to threaten me with a summons for blocking traffic. Once more I attempted to reason with him, and he asked me for my license and registration. He then gave me a summons for “Failure to comply with order,” as if I was some new rookie cop who didn’t listen to his superior.
I believe that was occurred was a clear picture of unprofessionalism in uniform and possible anti-semitism. At no point did he even stop to listen to my side of the story, at no point was he impartial and reasonable.
I would like your help to get this person out of a uniform he does not deserve to wear. His name is Police Officer Cummings in the 71st PCT, Shield #920171.
Below please find pictures of the summons and my car placement at the time of the event. You will notice his partner blocking my car in one of the pictures. Please share and let true justice rule in NYC.
NYPD RESPONSE
An officer with the 71st Precinct told COLlive: “When the police officers arrived, both motorists were fighting over the spot. Since there was no way to know who was in the right, he told both to drive away. The first motorist left but the second one did not comply. That’s why the officer issued the summons.”
Following the statement by the police, CJ wrote:
I was sitting in my car not talking to anyone and at no time during this whole event did I even speak with the other driver. The officer should not comment unless he was there and not make statements based on hearsay.
And had his partner not blocked my car I could have continued to park. I didn’t know we live in Marshal Law where the cop is Judge, Jury and Prosecutor all in one.
While writing the summons he began commenting to by standers “these EMT’s think…”. So obviously he was out to get me. I asked for a supervisor and he began yelling at me “You dont get to speak with a supervisor.”
PO Cummings charged you with violation of VTL 1102.
No person shall fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer or flagperson or other person duly empowered to regulate traffic.
The order was simply not lawful. Furthermore, the police officer should have taken your complaint against the other individual for harassment.
Any competent traffic attorney can have the ticket dismissed.
so do we, no?
On Kingston and Empire, but there was a twist to the story the N’African American claimed that I threatened her and she called 911. When the cops arrived I was detained with my bags of groceries. I immediately called shmira and some anash that have ties to the 71, and if it wasnt for them I would have spent the night in central booking. Being that I have an unrelated Federal conviction my word against the African american would have been in question. After being released through the intervention of some anash and shmira, I researched the NYC Parking law… Read more »
What’s the point in putting this on collive ?
you sound like a Jew from Germany in the 1930s. Every time you convince yourself that we have to show how much kinder we are and make a kiddush hashem in the face of abuse, you are helping to set up a pre Holocaust environment.
Didn’t read whole story as I’m SURE you are absolutely right without knowing particulars since you are who you are! Nevertheless, important to pick your battles judiciously. This not one of them, ESPECIALLY since this at NIGHT in Crown Heights….”Di LaMavin.”
You called the police using 911 (an emergency only line) over a parking spot??? You should be ashamed and your lucky you didn’t get a citation for that. Posting it on a public forum just furthers the huge chilul Hashem you made. It’s a parking spot… get over it!
I would of let them take the spot come back an hour later with a but and knife and taken care of the tires and windows and dented every part of the car
I’m sorry but I don’t think this was anti-semitism at all. In fact I think in this situation that you described, the police were actually smarter than you. They knew if they gave you the parking spot, and you parked there, your car would most likely been trashed or highly damaged once they left the scene. They understand this neighborhood better than you. They know this not Scarsdale NY, and they also know in our neighborhood, that people have killed, G-d Forbid, for many things less than a parking spot. They gave you a way out to “lose” the parking… Read more »
i had the same exact incident once upon a time, i drove off, even though i was half way backed into the spot. drove around the block twice and went over to that persons car and kicked the mirror and the whole contraption of the door. took off!
Crown Heights is a crazy place to live anyways, its just no point anymore move to monsey or somewhere in Jersey, stop wasting your life here, its all thanks to Bloomberg who is promoting bike lanes and eliminating parking spots, that these fights happen….
It sounds a little too exaggerated.
Besides being a jerk, you should make a kapara for dismissing the frustration of another fellow and lecturing him about his obligations. I never new it’s a kiddush Hashem to be a push over. I actually see a lot of merit in standing your ground when you have abuse heaped upon you.
you should have moved your own car right away. and after parking you should have gone back to their car and scratched it all up with a key. sometimes it is best off when people are spoken to in their own language…..
Agreed, we should not invoke anti semitisim when it’s unclear if there was really any involved. Maybe it was just black cops taking the side “of their own” and the result would’ve been the same if the Jewish driver were instead Asian or Hispanic. The bottom line is that there are many fine and fair NYPD cops, and some that are far from it, and if you stand up to those that are not you are in for a battle that will be difficult to win.
Cummings is the same officer who showed up after a vehicle had “hit and run” my vehicle. I located the culprit car a block down, called the police and Cummings came as well. He was respectful, but made no attempt to help me with the evidence and to amend the police report I had made earlier with another officer Reid. Reid was totally disrespectful and wrote the report as she felt she should. Bottom line there’s a big issue of police officers being accountable to someone who will actually care. Unless the cops do something really wrong and get caught… Read more »
Contact Yingi Bistritzky the head of Hatzalah in Crown Heights, the liaison between the community and the NYPD and he will attempt all in his power to straighten this out before it spirals into a major mess.
Dear # 29, The point is not whether cops help us, which of course many do, but WHY do some cops not exercise the law and have no fear of doing such? What was the ‘chillul HaShem,’ standing up for one’s right, and wishing the law to be exercised? Since, what this girl did was illegal, and the driver was polite, why did the driver act poorly? What about: ‘Diina de malchusa dina?’ # 12 makes a valid point. If we Jews back down when our rights are trampled upon, when we’re beaten (‘Aliya’ incident.) then it will continue. THIS… Read more »
Why don’t you find nearby buildings and look for cameras…..
wear goggle glasses
Wil l i be making a kiddush hashemor chillul hashem? obviously you made a chillul hashem, it dosen’t matter that the cops were wrong, and the girl who stood in your spot was wrong. you were wrong for making a chillul hashem.
(Named concealed to protect safety…sorry)
These cops, and many more should be deported to Somalia where they can engage in all the hatred and conceit they wish. Their brothers and sisters there will take care of them.
From now on dear Crown Heights residents, and Jews of the world, expect the cop here (Everywhere?) to act like a ‘Neanderthal’ and you won’t be shocked.
BH
BSD
AS JEWS AND LUBAVITCHERS TO BE KINDER AND MORE CIVIL THAN THE REST OF THE WORLD…
YOU SHOULD HAVE MOVED THE CAR AND MAKE THE KIDDUSH HASHEM AND KIDDUSH LUBAVITCH AND ESPECIALLY NOT HAVE CALLED THE POLICE
NOW U NEED TO MAKE THE KAPORAH FOR OUR MISTAKE IN PEACE AND WITH A BITUL ATTITUDE
HATZLACHA
# 3 no tzedek no yosher, IT IS ILLEGAL IN NYC TO RESERVE A PARKING PLACE FOR ANOTHER PERSON (DRIVER). Here is the NYC Law: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/trafrule.pdf It is not only illegal to reserve a NYC parking space, but it is down right dangerous. First, let’s start with the illegal part. The NYC parking rule states: “4-08 (n)(7) Unofficial reserving of parking space. It shall be unlawful for any person to reserve or attempt to reserve a parking space, or prevent any vehicle from parking on a public street through his/her presence in the roadway, the use of hand-signals, or by… Read more »
Dear Jewish Driver, It seems that certain (All?) officers do not know the law. It was also VERY CLEAR who was holding the spot (‘Reserving) It appears you are correct. Perhaps sue the city. This is the ONLY thing that creates change. This is what the city is truly afraid of. Going to the media might be good(?) Embarrasses them — it might cause you trouble. Get ‘sage’ advice. Here is the NYC Law: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/trafrule.pdf It is not only illegal to reserve a NYC parking space, but it is down right dangerous. First, let’s start with the illegal part. The… Read more »
Write to the New York Daily news and the New York Post. The media is your best friend against the NYPD.
Not worth the headaches. I can get wherever I need to go with my 2 legs B”H and public transportation, and for occasional trips with taxi/zipcar/rental. Still a lot cheaper and fewer hassles than owning your own car.
The NYPD also helps the CH community all the time, for example Lag Baomer parades, or our recent achdus event. And yes, some of the cops definitely have some issues they need to work out, but don’t forget that they also do a lot to help us!
It’s about not being served or protected by the NYPD because we’re not black. Not all the time obviously, but these biased cops are way too prevalent.
The first things i do when a incident starts to accur, i pull out my iPhone to video it for proof.
To call the police in the middle of the night over a parking spot. You can’t make this up.
on seinfeld …
In general, I don’t recommend taking your car out past 6-7pm. Upon the occasion that you have to go out late with your car, you can ALWAYS find parking if you are willing to park far enough from where you live. I sometimes park 4-5 blocks away if it becomes necessary. To the author, I understand that at the moment you felt that you wanted to “stand your ground”, and that they were wrong and disgusting and you were absolutely right, but you are living in the city, and you need to sometimes let these things go. You are wasting… Read more »
You won’t win here. What was the point in writing it on col ? you don’t sound very mature.
file a complaint more then one if need be & don’t be afraid to question & challenge the moron in court make sure the complaint is spiced up nicely to include racism even if it doesn’t go far a he will think twice next time b the complaint will stick out like a sore thumb on his record & will hurt his career!
The police were angry you summoned them in middle of the night to settle a parking dispute.You should of listened to them and drove off,some thing are just not worth fighting for.And by the way,you car does not look half way in the parking spot,I think you may be over exaggerating this whole event.
What YOU should have done was go get some black face-paint, painted yo face black, den yo iz one of di brodthers!
If yo iz black yo’s got it made!
You should have gone to osdaba for a din torah
need to be urgently taken off the force. Complain over and over to city hall. Ask people in the know who to complain to. Recently we have a dispute with a female officer about a parking spot. We were here from Canada. Do you want to know what this woman, who does not deserve her badge and is an embarrassment to NYPD and the city of NY, barked when we tried to reason with her. “GO BACK to Canada!!!” I simply could not believe my ears. There is something seriously wrong with the recruiting at NYPD. They are letting dimwits… Read more »
This is neither a racial incident nor a specifically anti-Semitic one, apart from the fact that racism and anti-Semitism seem to color every encounter between Jews and blacks today. We’ve personally had similar nasty and upsetting disputes over parking spots in Crown Heights and Borough Park, in which only Yidden were involved. The exact scenario played out in Brighton Beach some years back where a young woman was saving a parking spot for her boyfriend. But police weren’t summoned in any of the incidents. You win some and you lose some. This is a waste of time. You would have… Read more »
go to the papers, once your at it let them know about all the muggings and anti Semitic attacks that are happening every day
Its not about a parking spot its about saying no to anti semitsm
BH! I am truly happy that you have no other issues in your life that this was worth your time 🙂
Both waiting 30 minutes for the police and writing his letter etc etc.
May G-D bless you that it should always be this way
Perhaps Mr.s Eli Slavin or Chanina Sperlin would like to pay your ticket for you – or get it dismissed.
Writing this on collive is step #1 the only question is how far are you willing to take this? its been proven time & time again that the 71 is a combo of lazy & corrupt. Unless we start to disrupted the regularly scheduled kish in tuches events that happen in this community we will continue to have issues ranging from parking stories to police beatings…
BS”D
weak leadership and tush kissing to the police leadership is why this happens. It doesn’t happen in Williamsburg
I’m tired of people throwing the word antisemitism so loosely.
anti antisemitism? is that our go to word everytime something doesn’t go your way? grow up, this is the real world, you will not always get what you want, and yes, you will have some bad luck along the way.
This happened to me last week but we just gave in. There was no reasoning with these people. Unfortunately if we stay and fight our cars or chas v’shalom we will be hurt in the process. I’m glad we didn’t call the cops as I see they probably wouldn’t have helped anyway. We just told them that we are better then them and walked away. Have a great and safe summer!!!
the same thing happened on my block Lefferts between Troy & Schenctady yesterday morning. around 10::30 I heard shouting from the street and looked out and saw an African american in a loud altercation with a jewish bochur. He was cursing and threating . Yelling antisemitic slurs. Hitler should have killed you all. Go back to where you come from. F ——- jews. I called 911 because I was afraid. Two police cars pulled up in about 4 minutes and 4 african american police got out. 1 was a woman. They went directly to the shouting black man and eventually… Read more »
And if a cop is a bully, you may learn in court that judges are no different, but I wish you luck regardless. What happened to parking? How long did it take until you found a spot?
Yes the Police are by far Anti- Semites but the Black Police are MAJORITY Anti- Jews.
I hope you get an honest Judge or better yet get an ATTORNY. They always side with the police even when it is CLEAR thaty they are at fault!!!!!!!!!!
so tired of living in this neighborhood where we are routinely mistreated by the nypd. enough is enough. thanks for posting this.
You cant win this. Cuz the judge will say that even though you may be right, but you have to listen to the police officer. Your only choice make a complaint against this officer. Than file a complaint with the internal affairs.
Had you parked there, you can be sure your car would have been all scratched up (and perhaps windows busted) by morning.
There are some thing that are just not worth fighting over. Yes, sometimes even a parking spot.
Go to the 71st precinct. And speak to officer Taylor who is the community liaison . But good luck as we are outnumbered