Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYPD: That's A Drunk, Not A Cop, In Rape-Threat Video
By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 20, 2010
Modified Aug 20, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 20, 2010
Modified Aug 20, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The NYPD has gotten back to us on that video supposedly showing an undercover NYPD detective threatening a videographer with prison rape after a raid at the artsy DIY party club Surreal Estate in Bushwick. Cheryl Crispin at the Office of the Deputy Commissioner tells us, "The individual making the statements that you are referring to is not an NYPD officer." So who was he?
According to the NYPD, just some random drunk slob. We asked Crispin if he was associated with any other law enforcement agency, and she told us, "From what I heard from other officers at the raid, he was kicked out of that party and was issued some kind of traffic summons. He was just drunk and acting like a cop." Indeed, it was a convincing performance, what with all the rape threats and the stupid insults.
Since he's not NYPD, if we had to guess we'd go with meathead cop from Long Island who happened to be driving by the party after getting a ticket. At the very end of the video, around the 6:46 mark, one uniformed officer (jokingly?) says he's "one of our undercover officers." And the tie-dye guy seems to be asking the cop for a favor regarding the summons in his hand. He can be heard saying, "He gave me another ticket." The uniformed officer replies, "For seatbelt? I'll talk to him." And before walking away, Mr. Tie-Dye says something that sounds like, "If this is gonna go to court your going to come and save me, right?" Or something. It definitely sounds like buddy-buddy cop talk.
And Vladimir Teichberg, who shot the video for Glass Bead Collective, isn't convinced either. He tells us, "We have the following evidence that he is indeed a cop (or at least someone who was working on that raid with the NYPD):
- He was at the door to the space being raided together with the officer in uniform. We have the officer in uniform introducing him as one of our undercover officers as they are flirting with girls leaving the event.
- The tie-die shirt guy says he is a detective and threatens to arrest me, take me downtown etc in front of the uniformed officer at the door to Surreal Estate
- The tickets in question, are multiple tickets are look like ticket reciepts - i.e. the part of the ticket police keep for their records, and there are multiple ones.
- Both the uniformed cop and the tie die guy leave together when the commanding officer comes out of the building.
Crispin, the NYPD spokesperson, tells us there were 9 arrests at the raid and the charges consist of: Assault, Obstructing Governmental Administration, Unlicensed Bottle Club, Selling Alcohol without a License, Unlicensed Warehouse Liquor Storage, and Disorderly Conduct.
Tagged
nypd
rape
surreal estate
video
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani plans redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue after nurse killed in hit-and-run
Sunset Park residents and street safety advocates have called on city officials to make the avenue safer for years.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Oct 28, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. ET
NJ Gov. Sherrill: Election is secure, noncitizens taken off voter rolls
The governor made the comments in the October edition of "Ask Governor Sherrill" on WNYC.
By
Michael Sol Warren
News
NJ Gov. Sherrill: Election is secure, noncitizens taken off voter rolls
The governor made the comments in the October edition of "Ask Governor Sherrill" on WNYC.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Ex-NYPD officer again faces murder charge in George Washington Bridge shooting
By
Samantha Max
Former NYC buildings boss helped reopen mayor's favored restaurant despite health violations
By
David Brand
1 killed, 4 others injured at Elizabeth, NJ vigil shooting
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .