A Village Voice exposé on NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau highlighted drama at Ridgewood’s 104th Precinct. Photo by Jonathan Mena for BushwickBK
A recent Village Voice piece on problems within NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau highlights a confusing and sordid story of crooked cops from the 104th Precinct and their harrassment of a Ridgewood woman. One sergeant is fighting two separate lawsuits and an internal investigation amid allegations he grossly abused his power.
The saga of Sergeant Robert Ellington began in October 2008 when he mediated a dispute between Jessica Varney and her landlord at her apartment at 1874 Harman Street.
Varney told the Voice that Ellington began persuing her for a date. "He asked me if I liked Italian guys," she said. Eventually Ellington convinced Varney, 23 at the time, to go out with him. To her surprise, the sergeant took the young mother to Atlantic City on their first date. Varney claims she felt uncomfortable but went along with it.
Awkward turned to criminal when Ellington took Varney to his home on Long Island. Varney alleges in her lawsuit that the sergeant, who was married at the time, drugged her and took explicit pictures of the two having sex.
Ellington would continue to harass Varney and showed up at her apartment later that January. Hoping to retrieve the nude pictures, Varney went with Ellington again to his Long Island home.
Varney alleges that Ellington handcuffed and locked her in his basement for four hours. "He’s telling me I disrespected him and this was my punishment," she said. Varney filed a complaint against Ellington at his precinct.
According to her lawsuit, Ellington discovered the complaint against him and proceeded to make her life "a living hell." Varney said that another cop, a lieutenant from the 104th, showed up at her home to harass her. "He grabbed my right hand and put it on his penis," she alleges. The next day she was arrested based on a complaint filed by her landlord. The unidentified lieutenant appeared at her cell to release her, telling her that she now owed him a favor. Varney left Ridgewood later that month and moved in with her mother on Long Island.
Ellington tracked her down and told Varney that if he couldn’t have her, nobody could. "He had that gun in my face and against my stomach," said Varney, who called the police and filed an order of protection against Ellington. The sergeant was arrested by Suffolk County police for menacing with a firearm and endangering the welfare of a child, but the case is still pending.
Varney told the Voice that she had filed several complaints against Ellington with the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau but has not received any indication that IAB has followed through.
The details of Varney and Ellington’s relationship remain sketchy. Varney claims that they had no relationship but another lawsuit against the two contradicts her. She even admitted to the Voice that Ellington is the father of one of her children. A former neighbor of Varney’s, Gerardo Mayol, claims that Varney, Ellington, and the unidentified lieutenant were all romantically linked.
Mayol claims he was ready to testify against Varney in an eviction case when she threatened to retaliate if he proceeded. In his lawsuit, Mayol claims that Varney sent Ellington to harass Mayol at his home. At one point, Mayol was arrested on a stalking charge, which was eventually dropped. Mayol — who suffered a stroke while in police custody — is now suing Varney as well as Ellington and four other cops for $540 million.
Earlier this month the NYPD’s Advocate Office filled preliminary charges against Ellington. The sergeant was put on "modified" duty in a housing police unit until the outcomes of the Long Island case and IAB investigation are complete.
Nino December 6th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Why is this single woman having children with no fathers, different fathers and means to support herself then cry she cant pay the rent?
Leave it to the Villiage Voice to leave out 1/2 the story
Translation:
She screwed the landlord over the rent then started to fornicate the moron 104 cops for protection.
The landlords an ass for renting to a hoe
-N
Marie December 6th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
What a cast of a**holes. I hope they ALL get what
they deserve.
gabrielle December 7th, 2010 at 10:24 am
Dear Nino and Marie,
It appears that you have a very base understanding of this case. Do you personally know any of these people well enough to call them such names as you do? Nino, what is it your business if a woman wants to have a child without being married? It seems like you personally know this woman, based on your “translation” of the story. If you do know her, have the dignity to say so before you start badmouthing people without having any credibility.
NYC cops are known to bully around people, especially women. My sister dated a cop like this, and I can assure you, that can be very manipulative and power-hungry people. This woman COULD be making up the story, but if she isn’t, shouldn’t other women be concerned that something like this could actually happen to them as well? As a young woman, I AM concerned.
Nino December 7th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
It is my business (and the tax paying publics) when people like myself are the ones paying for these welfare brats and cash babies with our tax $$$.
I work my ass off wile these people eat, screw, get high and yap on public assist lifeline phones all day. (see your phone bill taxes)
Its not fair, especially to landlords when they dont pay their rent. It takes a year in housing court to get them out because they have kids. During this time a landlord is required to keep the heat and electric on or go to jail.
I have no compassion for welfare and medicaid brats working the system.
That should s’plain some of it for ya !!
Many people say: “What do you care its the Governments money” Well its not ! The government has no money of its own its all THE PEOPLES MONEY they hold and spend.
-N
Marie December 7th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
I agree with Niño. I am sick of welfare bums who live off
hard working people. As I stated before I hope they all
get what they deserve. Oh by the way, I wonder who watched
the kid when she went to Atlantic City with the police officer
even though she felt “uncomfortable”. Oh brother, what a loser.
Gabrielle December 8th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
The article is not not a woman on welfare and medicaid that is milking the system. There was no mention about any of that in the article actually. What I found offensive was the fact that you (Nino) called here a ‘hoe’.
I agree that people do things that are unfair to landlord, like not paying rent, knowing that it is really difficult to kick someone out in NYC.
Yet what happened to Varney highlights the corruption in the NYPD and how some cops manipulate citizens using their power unjustly, and WE ALL need to speak out against this happening!