She sounded indignant as she discussed her decades-long struggle to help clients who described being beaten up and abused by TPD officers. District of New Jersey The FBI was investigating Inman, former TPD officer Anthony Villanueva, and Mark Kieffer III in connection with the April 2017 arrest of Chanzie Washington. Villanueva appealed his firing to the states Office of Administrative Law (OAL), which in May 2019, following testimony against him from fellow officers, upheld the termination. Trenton officer, ex-colleague plead not guilty in civil rights case The video includes body cameras from three officers, but not from Villanueva or Inman. Villanueva also faces charges in connection to another incident in which he allegedly pepper sprayed a defendant in a holding cell. NBC10 obtained body cam footage of the incident.. While the man was complying with further police commands, Villanueva approached the man and punched him in the face and Inman tackled the man to the ground. As Singletary headed toward his cell and the door closed behind him, the cop sprayed him with the stinging mace, affecting nearby prisoners. With your experience, Im sure youre familiar with your Fifth Amendment rights, Bongiovanni said during the 10-minute court appearance. |. A Trenton police officer and his former colleague have pleaded not guilty to federal charges they violated a man's civil rights during a violent traffic stop. That case is pending in federal court. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Singletary has said he was visited by fed who wanted to know more about the altercation with Villanueva. Villanueva has several other issues pending from his four years on the Trenton police force, which all occurred in 2017. Trenton officer, ex-colleague facing civil rights charges - Inquirer.com Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman, 25, of Hamilton, New Jersey, and former Trenton Police Officer Anthony Villanueva, 25, of Ewing, New Jersey, are charged in a six-count indictment. In the footage below, the officers are heard yelling at Washington. You can explore additional available newsletters here. A number of officers went around to the other side of the fence, including one officer equipped with a body camera. He was fired in June 2018. It burns. The indictment recounts the chase from start to finish, as Washington ended up at the banks of the Delaware and Raritan Canal. The three civil suits, which name Villanueva, police officials and the city, are all pending, according to attorney Robin Lord who filed them with Clifford Bidlingmaier. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey, Two Trenton Police Officers Charged with Civil Rights Violations, Obstruction of Justice, U.S. Attorneys Office Reaches Settlement with Ocean County Nail Salon to End Disability Discrimination, Statement Of U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, Former Hillsborough Township School District Official Admits To Paying Kickbacks For Illegal Overtime Payments, Two Trenton Police Officers Charged With Civil Rights Violations, Obstruction of Justice. . Aerotek Mark Anthony Villanueva The Newnan Times-Herald. The attorney argued that Trenton Police leave their officers unequipped far too often. Villanuevas charges also related to his macing of a suspect in police lockup in 2017, according to the six-count indictment. Im hopeful there will be more to come.. Singletary was charged with assaulting Villanueva. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Attorney Robin Lord is seeing her client Chanzie Washington's claims of police brutality vindicated. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. Two Trenton Police Officers Charged with Civil Rights Violations Villanuevas lawyer said the only people who should be happy about the charges are gang members, gun carriers, and drug sellers. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. An anonymous cop from the department toldTrentonian that the police department is painting Anthony as the villain., Villanueva has hired an attorney who said,Ive already made plans to defend him on these charges, but theres no sense putting on my battle gear before the battle starts. Third excessive force suit brought against ex-Trenton cop Anthony By The Newnan Times-Herald. The false records counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Indictment alleges police assaulted suspects in Trenton; two - WHYY The incident was caught on body camera. Stephen Varn, who is serving as acting police director while Lt. Chris Doyle is on vacation, confirmed Inmans arrest at TPD headquarters. TRENTON A Trenton police officer and a former colleague accused of assaulting a man during an arrest have pleaded not guilty to civil rights violations and obstruction of justice charges. All Rights Reserved. The sound picks up after Washington is already on the ground in the first two videos. Authorities say the driver involved in the stop fled in his vehicle and then on foot as officers pursued. He didnt have a taser, he said. I dont want you back here because of a mistake. Two Trenton officers involved in arresting Washington after a foot chase in April of 2017 are now facing federal charges. Surrounded by police officers, Washington complied when told to raise his hands, according to authorities. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. He is fighting to get his job back. Villanueva filed 14 use-of-force reports in a two-year period, higher than the statewide average of 4.1 use-of-force reports per officer over a five-year period, according to NJ.coms reporting on statewide use-of-force records. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. He allegedly later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements to conceal his conduct. The indictment says Villanueva also lied on his report, a copy of which was obtained by this newspaper, intending to impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation. One part of the video shows Inman punching the suspect before bragging to the person recording the video, saying, I beat the living sh*t he stops when the other officer points to his body camera. Officer Anthony Villanueva sprays Quaree Singletary with mace during a lengthy struggle in TPD lockup. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On April 9, 2017, a Trenton man involved in a routine traffic stop fled in his vehicle and then on foot and was pursued by Trenton police officers. Trenton officer, ex-colleague plead not guilty to civil rights charges However, the lawsuit painted Singletary as a blameless victim. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. A police aide rushed to try to help subdue Singletary, who allegedly elbowed Villanueva during the altercation. TRENTON - City police officer Drew Inman was arrested Tuesday morning by the FBI as part of an investigation targeting former and current officers over allegations of use of excessive force.. Inman has been with the department a little more than two years and makes more than $57,000 in annual salary. Villanueva, who was standing on the same side of the chain-link fence, suddenly appeared out of nowhere, the feds alleged. Both men are charged with aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. He only had three things. TRENTON, N.J. Two Trenton police officers have been charged with civil rights and obstruction of justice charges for allegedly assaulting a man they were arresting, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today. One of the officers, who has since left the Trenton Police Department, is charged with additional civil rights and obstruction counts for allegedly assaulting a second defendant while in a holding cell at Trenton Police Headquarters. Inman is not charged in the Singletary incident. Ballarotto said his client is being unfairly vilified as a rogue cop, and he believes the ex-TPDer will get cleared. As I reached for the phone, Singletary smacked my hand out of the way.. (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED). They are accused of assaulting a man during a traffic stop in 2017. The video shows a fence separated Washington from most of the officers, who had their guns trained on him. Its inbred in internal affairs. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Pa. Woman Went Missing in 1992 and Declared Dead. Please enter valid email address to continue. Police Department Kanifah M. Wood, Trenton Police Department Eric W. Woodrow, West Windsor Police Department. Villanueva, who graduated from the police academy in 2015, was caught on tape pummeling Washington as he stood with his hands up near a chain-link fence as Inman and Kieffer joined in the clash. Another officer ordered Washington to climb over the fence toward him. Villanueva was fired by the police department, and is the subject of three excessive force lawsuits, according to The Trentonian. Inman and Villanueva returned to the police station to prepare reports in connection with the victims arrest. Jan. 28, 2021) From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research. In a rare interview with a former cop still facing criminal charges for alleged use of excessive force, NJ Advance Media spoke to Villanueva who said he stands by his actions and followed his. Its a travesty for him, but also for the law abiding resident of the city of Trenton, at a time when we need good honest hard-working police officers who really want to the job and at the same time want to go home to their families at night without getting a bullet in the chest. The man tells the officers, Stop hitting me in my face.". See Average Property Tax Bill In Lawrence Township, Per New Data, Catholics In Diocese Of Trenton Can Eat Meat On St. Patrick's Day, Head-Shaving Event At Lawrence Restaurant To Raise Funds For Cancer, Office Furniture & Soft Seating Liquidation Sale, NJ Camp Fairs at Menlo Park Mall Mar 4, 2023 - FREE to Attend (12-3PM), Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, AMC Theatres In NJ To Base Pricing Off Where You Sit, The Poop On Free-Range Cats And Your Lawn And Garden [Block Talk]. Villanueva and Inman were among this group. The violation of civil rights counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. On April 9, 2017 in Trenton, New Jersey, Chanzie Washington allegedly led cops on a car chase and then ran on foot. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Enter the name of a police department or an officer: Press to expand search. Man In Easter Bunny Suit Involved In Florida Brawl Wanted In New Jersey For Car Burglaries. The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was indicted by federal government for the 2017 incident on accusations he deprived the man of his civil rights. Dougherty believes the city made a pile of mistakes investigating Villanueva, including not interviewing his client or his supervising sergeant. All the charges against Felton were later dropped. provided by mercer county prosecutors office, Chanzie Washington's mugshot after being arrested April 9, 2017. Villanueva claimed Singletary assaulted him during a phone call from jail, then had a long struggle to get him back in a jail cell and handcuffed, forcing him to use pepper spray. So far no charges have been brought against Villanueva, who was cut loose by TPD last year. Trenton police officers chased him down. Official websites use .gov Attorneys Molly Lorber, Joseph Gribko and Ray Mateo of the U.S. Attorney=s Office Criminal Division in Trenton in the criminal case. The Trenton Police Department has punished a number of officers accused of conduct unbecoming a public servant since the turn of the century, culminating with the recent firing of patrol. Villanueva was fired last year and faces a separate federal charge for allegedly pepper spraying a man in a police holding cell. Villanueva also faces three civil lawsuits from Washington, Singletary, and Salaam Felton. Inman and Villanueva then punched the man numerous times, while he cried out in pain, and told officers, stop hitting me in my face, and youve got my hands.. (Image via YouTube) TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by. "In this situation, he did not elect to draw his weapon, it stayed in the holster and he brought the guy down to the ground and handcuffed him," Ballarotto said. His report on that incident included a number of false statements in an attempt to hide his unlawful conduct and improper treatment of the prisoner, authorities said. IN THE MATTER OF VILLANUEVA - leagle.com be arrested and re-processed. "It's perfectly proper the way he handled himself," Villanueva's attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, said. Quaree Singletary uses a bed mattress to shield himself from mace during a struggle in TPD lockup. Search the most comprehensive statewide database of police use of force in the U.S. At no time during this encounter did the plaintiff harass, or threaten the defendants, nor engage in any conduct, which in any way justified the excessive force used by defendants.. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. Villanueva later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements designed to conceal his unlawful conduct and improper treatment of the prisoner. To justify their actions, authorities said Inman and Villanueva prepared false and fraudulent reports in which they portrayed Washington as the aggressor and an ongoing threat. Trimboli & Prusinowski, LLC, attorneys for respondent City of Trenton . Former Trenton police officer Anthony Villanueva, left, when he graduated from the police academy in a 2015 file photo, and Trenton police officer Drew Inman, right, at his graduation. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Villanueva, 25, of Ewing, and Inman, 25, of Hamilton, are both charged with one count of aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. In the second incident, Villanueva is charged with depriving a man of his civil rights and obstruction of justice. Mar. Each man did not speak other than to acknowledge the judge when she advised them of their right to remain silent. She Was Just Found in Puerto Rico, Chris Rock to Address Will Smith's Slap in First Stand-Up Since Last Year's Oscars, New Jersey Bill Seeks to Ban Sale of Baby Wipes. The man was eventually surrounded by the officers and complied when he was ordered to put his hands in the air, officials said. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction while Inman is charged with one count of obstruction in connection to the incident. Suicide Note Revealed After Shocking Death, Indicted! Villanueva described it this way in a report after he said he told Singletary he needed to end the phone call: As I began to walk toward Singletary, he immediately began to tense up. Felton said in suit that he was beaten so badly during his arrest he suffered bleeding on the brain and other injuries. Trenton:609-989-2190 Video of the incident showed Singletary strolling unaccompanied down the hall leading to the jail cells and entering the cell. Villanueva wore all black, his lean frame topped by a mop of curly jet black hair. Trenton, GA Cureton , Phillip Lebron 2/15/1977 9846 W Ridge Trail Rd - Soddy Daisy, TN Curington , Jessica Lee 9/28/1979 TRENTON A third man who says he was beat up by fired Trenton cop Anthony Villanueva has finally filed suit against the former cop and ex-police director Ernest Parrey Jr., who is accused of not doing enough to crack down on rogue cops. The indictment was unsealed on Tuesday, and they were both scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. And then you have the old regime supervising these people. Bongiovanni ordered the government to turn over to the defense the names of any witnesses and victims so there wasnt any confusion. Body camera footage showed Villanueva tracking down, tackling and punching Felton in the head twice from behind following a foot chase in March 2017. Thats his gun, his physical strength and his courage.. While Washington was complying, Villanueva punched him in the face. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Villanueva grabbed a bottle of mace from the detention area. To justify their actions against the victim, Inman and Villanueva prepared and submitted false and fraudulent reports, in which they attempted to portray the victim as the aggressor and an ongoing threat. On Nov. 28, 2017, Villanueva, who had been assigned to work in the holding cell area of Trenton Police Headquarters, sprayed Oleoresin Capsicum (commonly referred to a pepper spray) on a prisoner who was confined in a holding cell. U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to todays indictment. 3/6/2023 6352640 villanueva gonz george 3/6/2023 6522314 wilson steven 3/7/2023 6548196 carrillo carlos 3/7/2023 6523835 davis rodney . Authorities said Villanueva punched the driver in the face and Inman tackled him. All say they were beaten up by Villanueva. Villanueva argued in his appeal, among other arguments, that the OAL erred by finding that he violated state policy on using pepper spray, and Trenton police failed to conduct an adequate investigation before terminating his employment. Villanueva and Inman knowingly made numerous misrepresentations, false statements and omissions in an effort to portray Victim 1 as the aggressor and an ongoing threat, the indictment says. All Rights Reserved. They also took Officer Inman into custody at Trenton police headquarters. Date published: Jan 28, 2021. Our journalism needs your support. Trenton, NJ. He plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court. WATCH: Video shows altercation in Trenton Police lockup that got The charges carry up to 10 and 20 years in prison, respectively, and a maximum $250,000 fine if the cops are convicted, the feds said. Washington ran from police during a traffic stop and when officers caught up with him at a fence, they ordered him to raise his arms and then climb over the fence, authorities allege. Inmans lawyer has declined to comment. PDF Inmate Release Report The charges and accusations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and Inman and Villanueva are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The arrest of Inman happened a day after the city introduced new police director Sheilah Coley. Who is Anthony McRae, the suspected Michigan State mass shooter? - ABC News An arrest constitutes only the initiation of charges, and those arrested are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law. Villanueva faces additional charges for allegedly assaulting a prisoner who was in a holding cell. Inman then charged at Washington and tackled him from behind, and joined Villanueva in repeatedly punching Washington in the face, according to the indictment against them. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. In a rare interview with a former cop still facing criminal charges for alleged use of excessive force, NJ Advance Media spoke to Villanueva who said he stands by his actions and followed his training and New Jersey Attorney Generals guidelines on the use of force each time. Villanueva filed 14 use-of-force reports in a two-year period, higher than the statewide average of 4.1 use-of-force reports per officer over a five-year period, according to NJ.coms reporting on statewide use-of-force records. Villanueva arrested Felton in March 2017 following a foot pursuit following a reported shooting. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. An official website of the United States government. Villanueva stated he intended to charge Q.S. The Force Report - NJ.com California residents do not sell my data request. They are charged with violating Washington's civil rights and falsifying police. Michigan Department of Corrections via AP Law enforcement officials on Tuesday named Anthony Dwayne McRae, a 43-year-old resident of Lansing, Michigan, as the suspect in the overnight shooting at Michigan State University that took the lives of three students and wounded five others. In the Trenton case, city cops Villanueva and Inman were hit in a six-count indictment that charged civilrights deprivation and falsifying police records. On November 28, 2017, Villanueva was on duty at the Trenton Police Department Detention Center. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Villanueva and Inman were each ordered released on $50,000 unsecured bonds with conditions. Police work is difficult and dangerous, but officers need to respect the civil rights of the people they are policing, Carpenito said. Theres no evidence that he was punched at that side of his face.. The gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are probably throwing a party tonight since he was taken off the street. TPD Officer Drew Inman, center, was caught on tape punching a suspect in the face while other cops placed him in cuffs. Capt. Camden:856-757-5026 That decision was then adopted by the states Civil Service Commission. Get free summaries of new New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division - Unpublished Opinions opinions delivered to your inbox! A Trenton police officer and a former colleague accused of assaulting a man they were arresting have both been charged with obstruction of justice and violating the man's civil rights Skip to content Sunday, December 25, 2022 It was not immediately clear if that charge was dropped. Sitting next to their attorneys, they remained quiet as U.S. assistant attorney Joseph Gribko briefly recapped the case against them. Personally, its devastating to him, Hes got a family. Body Cam Footage Shows Trenton Officers Accused of Assaulting Man Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Incidents like these erode the publics confidence in law enforcement, and make policing harder for everyone whose job it is to keep our communities safe., Civil Rights violations are of great concern, particularly when the allegations involve a member of law enforcement, FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie said. A New Jersey appeals court has affirmed the 2018 firing of a Trenton police officer terminated for pepper spraying a suspect inside a jail cell. It aint no joke. A locked padlock Villanueva is also charged with depriving a second man of his civil rights in a separate incident, and with obstruction related to that second incident. The whole scuffle was caught on surveillance cameras and the footage was released to The Trentonian. Cannon , Che' Anthony Berry 10/29/1996 2105 Foust St - Chattanooga, TN Cannon , Courtney Leighann 8/15/1991 3254 Plaza Cir - Chattanooga, TN Cannon , Ira 10/20/1996 . Villanueva went back to headquarters to help process Washington. It isn't entirely clear what is happening in the third video, which was shot from a distance. Police work is difficult and dangerous, but officers need to respect the civil rights of the people they are policing, U.S. Attorney Carpenito said. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman, 25, of Hamilton, New Jersey, and former Trenton Police Officer Anthony Villanueva, 25, of Ewing, New Jersey, are charged in a six-count indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury on April 18, 2019, and unsealed today.
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