Cop Lied About Assaulting Victim In Passaic Co., Gets Indicted: Feds

PATERSON, NJ — A Paterson police officer was indicted Tuesday for assaulting someone and trying to cover it up, according to federal authorities.

Kevin Patino was charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy against rights, one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and two counts of falsifying records.

Patino and another Paterson police officer beat a victim walking with his hands in his pockets, which Patino covered up with false police reports, according to the indictment. Federal authorities didn't name the other officer in the indictment, but they previously identified them as Kendry Tineo-Restituyo.

Tineo-Restituyo and Patino were both federally charged in April with depriving a victim of his constitutional right to be free from unreasonable force by officers and with filing a false police report.

Paterson police received a call Dec. 14, 2020, about a "suspicious person" on Madison Avenue. Patino and Tineo-Restituyo showed up and spoke to a suspect, according to authorities.

Meanwhile, the victim went into a local convenience store on his way to work. He left the store and walked toward where the Paterson officers' unmarked vehicle was parked, according to the indictment.

The officers returned to their vehicle after interacting with the suspect, authorities said. Tineo-Restituyo rolled down the driver's side window and repeatedly asked the victim, "What did you say?" according to officials.

The victim stated he hadn't said anything and kept walking. Then the officers made a sharp left turn toward him and parked the vehicle, the indictment says.

Patino grabbed the victim, according to court documents. When the victim tried to separate himself, Patino struck his face and body several times, authorities said.

During the altercation, Tineo-Restituyo picked the victim up and threw him to the ground, authorities said. Both officers repeatedly struck him while he was on the ground, according to federal officials.

Patino falsely stated in victim's arrest report that the victim was "screaming profanities," "acting belligerent" and got into "an aggressive fighting stance by blading his body and clutching his fist," the indictment says. He also omitted that he and his fellow officer beat the victim when he was on the ground, authorities said.

In the use-of-force report, Patino falsely stated that the victim aggressively resisted and that officers only made contact with the victim's cheeks, according to the indictment.

If convicted, the violation of civil rights and conspiracy to violate civil rights charges each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The false records counts each hold a maximum of 20 years in prison. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000.

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