NYPD Officer Indicted on Misconduct Charges
A seasoned NYPD officer faces misconduct charges stemming from two incidents involving civilians in Brooklyn. Authorities noted that one confrontation was captured on video, showcasing a tense exchange with a bystander as the officer drove recklessly.
Koran McPhatter, 42, who has served in the department since 2005, appeared in court on Tuesday, facing a 13-count indictment. Charges include assault, official misconduct, attempted assault, attempted extortion, and menacing, as confirmed by the prosecutor’s office through online records.
The first incident took place on August 3, 2025, around 6:45 p.m. A pedestrian observed McPhatter, assigned to the 72nd Precinct, engaging in “dangerous driving” on 41st Street in Sunset Park, a busy area filled with families, pets, and pedestrians, as described by AB Youssef, the victim’s photographer in an Instagram video. Youssef recalls stopping McPhatter and asking for his badge number. The interaction escalated quickly.
The video shows McPhatter exiting his vehicle and, rather than providing his badge number, he shoved the car door into Youssef and sprayed pepper spray before speeding away.
Following the incident, Youssef went to the 72nd Precinct to address the matter and file a complaint. When McPhatter confronted him again, he refused to provide his badge number and demanded Youssef leave the area. Tensions flared as McPhatter pressed against Youssef until they were separated by other officers.
Youssef expressed that he had only requested identification, stating, “I didn’t do anything wrong.” He recounted how McPhatter physically attempted to push him out of the precinct.
The second incident occurred on October 24, when McPhatter and his partner dealt with a 60-year-old man allegedly trespassing near First Avenue. After finding the man still present a half-hour later, McPhatter arrested him and reportedly struck him twice before slamming him against a police car.
As they headed to the precinct, the handcuffed man supposedly took McPhatter’s glasses, prompting an unwarranted response from the officer. McPhatter, still agitated, called the suspect a “big dummy” in front of a sergeant and slapped him in the face when he reacted. The supervisor quickly reassigned the case.
During McPhatter’s arraignment, Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Phyllis Chu released him without bail and scheduled a court return on March 26.
District Attorney Eric Gonzalez remarked, “Instead of using the de-escalation techniques trained to NYPD officers, this defendant allegedly assaulted a person in his custody and threatened a civilian who filed a complaint. Maintaining trust between law enforcement and the public is crucial to continued safety improvements in Brooklyn.”
Online records show McPhatter has had eight substantiated complaints during his NYPD career. He is currently suspended without pay, and attempts to reach his representative were unsuccessful.
