Incident details
- Updated on
- Date of incident
- July 6, 2021
- Case number
- 154736/2022
- Case status
- Ongoing
- Type of case
- Civil
- Arrest status
- Arrested and released
- Arresting authority
- New York City Police Department
- Charges
-
-
Theft: grand larceny
- July 6, 2021: Charges pending
- Nov. 1, 2021: Charges dropped
-
Theft: grand larceny
- Unnecessary use of force?
- No
Arrest/Criminal Charge
Independent journalist sues NYPD over assault, arrest on grand larceny charge
Independent journalist Marcos Quinones filed a lawsuit against the city of New York on June 3, 2022, over an arrest stemming from an earlier incident while he was covering a protest.
Quinones — who, as of June 2026, goes by his first name Marcos rather than his middle name Gabe — was covering a June 5, 2021, demonstration against curfew enforcement in New York’s Washington Square Park. At around 11 p.m., despite wearing press credentials, he was shoved and hit with a baton by a New York Police Department captain, who was named in the suit as Stephen Spataro.
A month later, the NYPD arrested Quinones on charges of grand larceny, alleging that he had attempted to steal the baton. The charges were dropped in November 2021.
Quinones’ petition alleges that the NYPD violated his civil rights, including by retaliating against his First Amendment rights, assaulting and falsely imprisoning him, and maliciously prosecuting him.
By mid-2026, the case had yet to reach a final determination.
“I think the state is just dragging its feet and has a slew of cases like this one,” Quinones told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. “But this one is a little bit crazier because it was a captain of the NYPD who did all the things that I’m alleging.”
Charge of grand larceny against photojournalist dropped
Independent photojournalist Gabe Quinones told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker the charges of grand larceny against him were dropped on Nov. 1, 2021.
The New York Police Department alleged that Quinones attempted to steal an NYPD officer’s baton on June 5. On that evening, Quinones was covering demonstrations in Washington Square Park, which had been the site of both protests and street parties in the weeks preceding. Gothamist reported that for several months the NYPD had attempted to enforce the park’s largely ignored midnight curfew, and had announced a 10 p.m. curfew at the end of May.
On July 6, Quinones said officers arrived at his apartment and arrested him on charges of grand larceny, alleging that he had attempted to steal the officer’s baton during the incident the night before. Quinones denied the allegations unequivocally.
Quinones told the Tracker the charge was dropped during a hearing on Nov. 1, and he intends to file a lawsuit against the department.
Independent photojournalist Gabe Quinones said he was arrested on charges of grand larceny by the New York City Police Department on July 6, 2021.
The department alleges that Quinones attempted to steal an NYPD officer’s baton on June 5, the photojournalist told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. On that evening, Quinones was covering demonstrations in Washington Square Park, which had been the site of both protests and street parties in the weeks preceding. Gothamist reported that for several months the NYPD had attempted to enforce the park’s largely ignored midnight curfew, and had announced a 10 p.m. curfew at the end of May.
Quinones told the Tracker that officers arrived well before the closure of the park and advanced on the crowds gathered there shortly before 10 p.m. As officers attempted to enforce the curfew and clear the park, Quinones said an officer ran up behind him as he walked down the sidewalk and shoved him into a wall with his baton. The Tracker has documented that incident here.
Quinones told the Tracker he filed a complaint against the officer and was contacted by the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Office to provide his footage and answer questions about the incident.
On July 6, Quinones said officers arrived at his apartment and arrested him on charges of grand larceny, alleging that he had attempted to steal the officer’s baton during the June 5 incident. Quinones denied the allegations unequivocally.
“There’s no humanly possible way that I could have stolen anything,” Quinones said. “I got assaulted by that baton: I didn’t try to steal it. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing when I walked in there.”
Quinones said he was taken to the NYPD’s 6th Precinct where he was held for three to four hours before being released with a hearing scheduled for July 26.
The NYPD didn’t respond to emailed requests for comment.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogs press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
