Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Manhattan

Officer Convicted in Beating Was Handing Off Parking Placard

From the New York Times, via an eagle-eyed Streetsblog tipster:

A police captain who admitted having a forbidden affair with an officer under his command was convicted yesterday of brutally beating her on a Greenwich Village street.

The jury in State Supreme Court in Manhattan found the captain, Alberto Sanchez, guilty of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, after about three hours of deliberation. It acquitted him of a second misdemeanor charge, that of unlawful imprisonment.

He faces up to a year in jail at his sentencing on Oct. 18. For now, he is on modified duty and could face departmental disciplinary charges and possible dismissal, according to a police spokesman.

Prosecutors said that Captain Sanchez, 42, a 15-year veteran of the police force, and his accuser, Officer Sharon Gandarilla, 33, a nine-year veteran, had a sexual affair that was at first consensual but turned abusive.

In the confrontation that led to the trial, Captain Sanchez dragged Officer Gandarilla out of a retirement party at a restaurant on Broadway last Sept. 1, forced her into her car and punched and kicked her, because he thought she had been flirting with another officer, the prosecution said.

Witnesses said that Officer Gandarilla was beaten by the driver of her car, he noted. Captain Sanchez testified that during the party, he took the keys to Officer Gandarilla’s car to get an official parking plaque from her glove compartment for a fellow officer to use, even though they were not on official business.

“At no point did we ever see the keys being returned, so he must have been the driver of the car,” Mr. Schlough said.

Also, he said, Officer Gandarilla must have known her assailant, or she would have cried for help instead of accepting the beating, as witnesses described.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Beach Reading: Zohran Mamdani’s Answers to Streetsblog’s Mayoral Candidate Survey

Spend the holiday weekend with Zohran Mamdani's answers to Streetsblog's mayoral candidate questionnaire.

July 4, 2025

Friday Video: Why NYC Needs ‘Low-Traffic Neighborhoods’

London's Church Street, like so many of our business corridors, was choking on cars — until the advent of the low-traffic neighborhood.

July 4, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: E-Bikes in Parks … Permanently Edition

The Parks Department will permanently allow e-bikes in city parks following a two-year pilot. Plus more news.

July 4, 2025

Anti-Miracle On 34th Street: Adams Administration Pauses Work On 34th Street Busway

The highly-anticipated 34th Street busway may not happen under Mayor Adams after all, sources said.

July 3, 2025

Manhattan DA Says Alleged Central Park Hit-and-Run Cyclist Didn’t Flee, Drops Charges

Prosecutors said the 30-year-old cyclist "remained on the scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics to arrive to treat the injured person."

Sean Duffy’s ‘Great America Road Trip’ Wants You to Drive to Central Park

Sean Duffy's "Great American Road Trip" encourages Americans to drive to sites in the most transit-rich and car-choked parts of the country.

July 3, 2025
See all posts