A number of officers went around to the other side of the fence, including one officer equipped with a body camera. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Katz & Dougherty, LLC, attorneys for appellant Anthony Villanueva (George T. Dougherty , on the briefs). Enter the name of a police department or an officer: Press to expand search. 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. Im hopeful there will be more to come.. I dont want you back here because of a mistake. All rights reserved (About Us). Villanueva wore all black, his lean frame topped by a mop of curly jet black hair. 11 Powerful Images At The Womens March 2018, Your email will be shared with newsone.com and subject to its, Every Receipt Proving Candace Owens Is A Con Artist Who Is Following The Money, Celebrating The Black History Of Memorial Day, Never Forget: Obamas Tan Suit Media Firestorm Was 7 Years Ago Today. Felton said in suit that he was beaten so badly during his arrest he suffered bleeding on the brain and other injuries. Racist Ex-University Of Kentucky 'Karen' Sophia Rosing Is Charged For Assaulting Black Student, Mississippi Cops Beat, Waterboarded Handcuffed Black Men, Shot 1 For Dating White Women': Lawyers. "It's a question of respect. With your experience, Im sure youre familiar with your Fifth Amendment rights, Bongiovanni said during the 10-minute court appearance. Its inbred all over. Washington jumped into the canal and swam to the opposite bank, climbing up a steep, brush-lined embankment near a parking lot. Villanueva was fired last summer after repeated instances of excessive force, and three of his accuser have since filed suit against him and the department. Sign up for NewsOne's email newsletter! 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. Washington and Salaam Felton, now of St. Charles, Missouri, also claimed in separate lawsuits they were beaten to a pulp by Villanueva. Villanueva was fired by the police department, and is the subject of three excessive force lawsuits, according to The Trentonian. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. Trimboli & Prusinowski, LLC, attorneys for respondent City of Trenton . Singletary, describing the horrible burning pain he experienced after getting maced, explained he asked to go to the hospital but was instead given water to flush out his eyes and throat. Mayor Reed Gusciora said he was made aware of the arrests but declined to comment beyond that. An arrest constitutes only the initiation of charges, and those arrested are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law. Kieffer III, the son of Capt. The charges and accusations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and Inman and Villanueva are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Both Inman and Villanueva were granted unsecured bail on Tuesday, meaning they can go home. Ballarotto plans to hire a police expert to testify that the officer's physicality was within the law. NBC10 obtained body cam footage of the incident.. "It's perfectly proper the way he handled himself," Villanueva's attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Full title: IN THE MATTER OF ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. / CBS Philadelphia. Main Office: As the cell door began to close and was almost shut, Villanueva sprayed the chemical agent inside. Please enter valid email address to continue. In proceedings in the OAL and the appeals court, the judge found Villanuevas reporting on the incident was starkly different from parts of the incident caught on police security cameras. Inman has been with the department a little more than two years and makes more than $57,000 in annual salary. Police work is difficult and dangerous, but officers need to respect the civil rights of the people they are policing, Carpenito said. Capt. Newark, NJ 07102, Newark:973-645-2700 Villanueva was fired by Trenton police last summer for an alleged pattern of excessive force. Mark Kieffer Jr., was not charged in the indictment and not mentioned by name. Body cam footage obtained by NBC10 shows the man on the ground and crying out in pain while officers are on top of him. 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. Passaic Clinton, Hunterdon Trenton, Mercer Tuckerton, Ocean Union Beach, Monmouth Union City, Hudson Union Township, . The incident was recorded on other officers body cams. He didnt have a taser, he 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 handed up last Thursday by a federal grand jury and unsealed Tuesday. In his report, Villanueva claimed he told Singletary he needed to end the phone call and that, As I began to walk toward Singletary, he immediately began to tense up. A lock ( 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. 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. 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. All rights reserved, Philly POPS Musicians Disappointed' by Recent Moves, Trump Supporters Get Parole in Philadelphia Weapons Case, Check Your Change! He is also charged with additional civil rights and obstruction counts in connection to a separate incident in November 2017. When the police caught him, Washington was brought to the ground, and was then punched several times by three different police officers: Drew Inman, Antony Villanueva andMark Kieffer III. All the charges against Felton were later dropped. 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. Mar. I feel that although [the arrests] are a positive step toward change, its too little too late, she said. And then you have the old regime supervising these people. Official websites use .gov Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. It aint no joke. 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. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. A Trenton police officer and a former colleague accused of assaulting a man they were arresting have pleaded not guilty to civil rights and obstruction of justice counts. 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 . Villanueva grabbed a bottle of mace from the detention area. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction while Inman is charged with one count of obstruction in connection to the incident. Both defendants are charged with one count aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Inman and Kieffer III are white and Villanueva is Hispanic. 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. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. Body cam video acquired by The Trentonian shows an officer, seemingly unprovoked, punch Washington in the head and tackle Washington to the ground, where he was punched even more. The only way to eradicate the excessive abuse in the Trenton police department is by firing them all and starting all over again, she said. The FBI was investigating Inman, former TPD officer Anthony Villanueva, and Mark Kieffer III in connection with the April 2017 arrest of Chanzie Washington. 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They both face more than 30 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. She sounded indignant as she discussed her decades-long struggle to help clients who described being beaten up and abused by TPD officers. Video footage from inside police lockup showed the entire struggle, beginning in the phone room when Villanueva attempted to end a call Singletary was on with relatives after he was arrested and taken to headquarters on a warrant. He was a good cop and still is a good cop., In a statement, U.S. attorney Craig Carpenito said cops have a difficult and dangerous, job but must perform their duties while respecting the civil rights of the people they are policing. Camden:856-757-5026 Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. All say they were beaten up by Villanueva. The Singletary incident was included in a federal civil rights case the U.S. Attorneys Office brought against Villanueva and Trenton police officer Drew Inman. Anthony Villanueva and Drew Inman are charged with assault in the 2017 arrest of Chanzie Washington. Quaree Singletary uses a bed mattress to shield himself from mace during a struggle in TPD lockup. 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. He didnt have a flashlight. Villanueva filed a written report later that night setting forth his account of what happened next. Stephen Varn, who is serving as acting police director while Lt. Chris Doyle is on vacation, confirmed Inmans arrest at TPD headquarters. _____ Submitted January 12, 2021 - Decided Before Judges Haas, Mawla, and Natali. The man was eventually surrounded by Trenton police officers and complied when he was ordered to put his hands in the air. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Villanuevas attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, insists his client didnt punch the man however. The indictment recounts the chase from start to finish, as Washington ended up at the banks of the Delaware and Raritan Canal. Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. 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. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction, in connection with that incident. Villanueva and Inman, their hands shackled in front of them, appeared Tuesday afternoon before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni. This is not a Rodney King situation, he said. Citations Copy Citation. Villanueva later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements designed to conceal his unlawful conduct and improper treatment of the prisoner. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. 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., FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie called the cops actions a violation of trust., Civil rights violations are of great concern, particularly when the allegations involve a member of law enforcement, he said in a statement. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by federal agents and charged with assault and obstruction of justice, authorities announced on Tuesday. The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was. Body camera footage showed Villanueva tracking down, tackling and punching Felton in the head twice from behind following a foot chase in March 2017. TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- Two Trenton police officers are now in trouble with the law. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He was also seen walking coming down the hall shaking the pepper spray as he approached Singletarys cell. Div. Sign up for our free summaries and get the latest delivered directly to you. Inman, who was creeping from behind, tackled Washington to the ground as both officers repeatedly punched him while he screamed out in pain, Stop hitting me in the face, and youve got my hands, according to the indictment. Yo, why would you do that, he recalled saying. They punched him numerous times while Washington cried out, stop hitting me, and youve got my hands.. Footage from the incident that was obtained by The Trentonian via public records request can be seen below. Like our content? Quaree Singletary, of Ewing, claims he was physically assaulted by Villanueva in lockup at Trenton Police headquarters on Nov. 28, 2017, and suffers from serious bodily injuries to his brain, head, face and body.. I never want to be maced again in my life, Singletary previously told this newspaper. The attorney argued that Trenton Police leave their officers unequipped far too often. 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.. Villanueva and Inman were each ordered released on $50,000 unsecured bonds with conditions. Jan. 28, 2021) From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research. 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. The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was indicted by federal government for the 2017 incident on accusations he deprived the man of his civil rights. California residents do not sell my data request. Investigators said he pepper sprayed a defendant while in a holding cell area of Trenton police headquarters. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 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 Almost immediately thereafter, defendant Villanueva strode quickly down the corridor after victim 2, towards Cell 7, carrying a can of Oleoresin Capsicum, also known as OC spray or pepper spray., It goes on to say Villanueva reached through the bars and sprayed OC spray into Cell 7, while victim 2 attempted to shield himself with a mattress.. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. Her first official day isnt till May 1. Theres no evidence that he was punched at that side of his face.. You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. provided by mercer county prosecutors office, Chanzie Washington's mugshot after being arrested April 9, 2017. In the footage below, the officers are heard yelling at Washington. Villanueva has several other issues pending from his four years on the Trenton police force, which all occurred in 2017. April 23, 2019 / 6:49 PM First published on April 23, 2019 / 6:49 PM. Our journalism needs your support. If you encounter them, you need to promptly notify your [attorneys]. 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 Newnan Times-Herald. Former officer Anthony Villanueva and current officer Drew Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday afternoon. Villanueva stated he intended to charge Q.S. That case is pending in federal court. FAX: 856-968-4917 As I reached for the phone, Singletary smacked my hand out of the way.. DOCKET NO. Singletary, who is no stranger to cops having been arrested multiple times, told The Trentonian in a previous interview he remembered asking Villanueva why he ended his call. Authorities say the driver involved in the stop fled in his vehicle and then on foot as officers pursued. Chanzie Washington was pummeled by cops during an arrest in April 2017. The Trentonian reported on those dustups, both of which were caught on tape. 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. Officer Drew Inman and former officer Anthony Villaneuva face six counts of civil rights violations and obstruction of justice in the arrest of suspect Chanzie Washington in 2017 and Quaree Singletary in 2017. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Its inbred in the academy. Its a whole family of public servants in the city of Trenton, he said. He was fired in June 2018. They are accused of assaulting a man during a traffic stop in 2017. Villanueva and Inman were among this group. 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). Inman and Villanueva were two of the officers caught on tape appearing to throw blows after Washington surrendered following a wild foot chase through the city. The appropriate departmental administrative actions will be taken, he said. Hearing Impaired: 973-645-6227 Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 Its inbred in internal affairs. I believe that if my client gets a fair hearing he wont be charged.. ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. He is fighting to get his job back. FAX:973-645-2702 FAX: 609-989-2275. Date published: Jan 28, 2021. 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 is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction. According toTrentonian,the Trenton Police Department is setting up the Hispanic cop, Officer Anthony Villanueva, as the sole fall guy and Villanueva was placed on restricted duty within a week, but Inman remained on the streets for more than a month before being placed on restriction. As of last month,Villanueva was suspended without pay. Villanueva, who was standing on the same side of the chain-link fence, suddenly appeared out of nowhere, the feds alleged. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are probably throwing a party tonight since he was taken off the street. Villanueva and Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday. (Image via YouTube) TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Police Department Kanifah M. Wood, Trenton Police Department Eric W. Woodrow, West Windsor Police Department. Sounds likeVillanueva was under the misconception that police solidarity may is the same if you are a person of color. Anthony Villanueva leaves the federal courthouse in Trenton in this April 2019 file photo. Singletary was charged with assaulting Villanueva. The counts against both officers stem from a traffic stop on April 9, 2017, in Trenton. 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. That decision was then adopted by the states Civil Service Commission. In November 2017, Villanueva fired a can of chemical spray at Quaree Singletary inside a Trenton police holding cell while the cell door was closing, and then 24-year-old Singletary was inside. 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. 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. Jerome Ballarotto, Villanuevas attorney, confirmed the FBI went to his clients house in Ewing around 6 a.m. and arrested him at gunpoint, terrorizing his wife and children. You dont want to come back here. That came one day after they made their initial court appearances and were each released on $50,000 bail. 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. Quaree Singletary engaged in a struggle with city cop Anthony Villanueva after Villanueva abruptly ended Singletary's phone call to relatives. It was not immediately clear if that charge was dropped. Ballarotto said his client is being unfairly vilified as a rogue cop, and he believes the ex-TPDer will get cleared. The arresting departments are noted: Coweta County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), Chattahoochee Hills Police Department (CHPD . Villanueva faces additional charges for allegedly assaulting a prisoner who was in a holding cell. 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. I know its a small community, the judge told the defendants. They are charged with violating Washington's civil rights and falsifying police reports to characterize him as the aggressor. Singletary and Villanueva who at last word was being looked at by the feds over allegations of repeated use of excessive force got into it with each other in police lockup over a phone call. Attorney Robin Lord is seeing her client Chanzie Washington's claims of police brutality vindicated. All Rights Reserved. All Rights Reserved. The federal case against them was initially scheduled for trial in 2020, but has been repeatedly postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Villanueva, who has since left the police department, is also charged with assaulting a prisoner in a separate incident. Villanuevas charges also related to his macing of a suspect in police lockup in 2017, according to the six-count indictment. On April 9, 2017, Chanzie Washington, of Trenton, fled a routine traffic stop on foot, according to authorities. Officers try to subdue Quaree Singletary during a lengthy struggle in police lockup. A locked padlock The appeals court fully backed the OAL judge, Jeff Masin, in his findings that Villanueva was properly terminated. The unsecured bonds didnt require the cops or their families to plunk down cash or property to secure their releases, but they are required to show up for arraignment Wednesday morning. The former officer and his attorney, George Dougherty, then went to the state courts Appellate Division, which on Thursday sided with the OAL judges 40-page decision. Inmans lawyer has declined to comment. 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. The charges against both men stem from an April 2017 traffic stop in Trenton. The violation of civil rights counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The lawsuit, brought by attorneys Robin Lord and Clifford Bidlingmaier, was filed in state court March 29, more than a year after Singletarys encounter with the troubled ex-cop. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The two appeared to exchange words in the soundless video moments before tempers flared.
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