New York City

Woman Sues NYPD, Says Cop Who Arrested Her Sent Harassing Sexts

What to Know

  • Kammie Sifonte, 22, of the Bronx, is suing the city and the NYPD, claiming a cop who arrested her sent sexually explicit texts to her phone
  • Sifonte was arrested on a minor charge in November 2016 and given a desk appearance ticket; she started getting texts after she was released
  • She complied with the cop's request to send photos because she says she was afraid of his potential influence over her criminal case

A 22 year-old Bronx woman has filed a lawsuit against New York City and the NYPD, claiming an officer who arrested her last fall sent “unwanted, sexually explicit and coercive text messages” to her personal phone.

In court papers filed Monday, Kammie Sifonte said she was arrested for a minor charge on Nov. 21, 2016 by officers from the 52nd pct. and given a desk appearance ticket. 

Sifonte, a pet care specialist, claimed that a short time after she was released, she began receiving text messages from officer Rony Santiago.

“I didn’t give this person my number," she said. "This person took my number off of the documentation and continued to harass me. So I definitely knew that he was abusing his power as a police officer to sexually harass me."

Sifonte said the texts became increasingly sexual in nature.

"There was one where he said that I looked better in handcuffs, that I was thick in all the right places," she said.

She added, “He asked me if I was interested in a threesome, or if that was on my bucket list, because it was certainly on his. I said, 'Do you always flirt with women that you arrest?' and he said, 'Only the attractive ones.'"

Sifonte said she complied with the officer’s request to send photos, which she claimed were not provocative, adding she was afraid of his potential influence over her criminal case.

Sifonte’s attorney, Henry Bell, said her criminal case was eventually dismissed and sealed.

"There’s no telling how far he (Santiago) could have gone because these text messages speak to a shocking lack of judgment," he said. 

Sifonte said the officer also indicated he wanted to come over to her house and give her a massage.

A spokesman for the NYPD said the matter is under “internal review,” adding that Santiago remains on full duty.

The I-Team left messages for Santiago but did not hear back. A spokesman for the union that represents police officers declined to comment. A spokesman for the law department said the City will review the lawsuit and "respond accordingly."

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