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 And then you have the old regime supervising these people. 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. His father was a police officer. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. Villanueva was fired last year and faces a separate federal charge for allegedly pepper spraying a man in a police holding cell. Each man did not speak other than to acknowledge the judge when she advised them of their right to remain silent. Personally, its devastating to him, Hes got a family. _____ Submitted January 12, 2021 - Decided Before Judges Haas, Mawla, and Natali. But they will be back in court Wednesday morning where both men are expected to plead not guilty and go to trial later this year. 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. That decision was then adopted by the states Civil Service Commission. 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. The appeals court fully backed the OAL judge, Jeff Masin, in his findings that Villanueva was properly terminated. provided by mercer county prosecutors office, Chanzie Washington's mugshot after being arrested April 9, 2017. Sounds likeVillanueva was under the misconception that police solidarity may is the same if you are a person of color. 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. Both Inman and Villanueva were granted unsecured bail on Tuesday, meaning they can go home. Felton said in suit that he was beaten so badly during his arrest he suffered bleeding on the brain and other injuries. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. . 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. Singletary has said he was visited by fed who wanted to know more about the altercation with Villanueva. 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. FAX: 856-968-4917 Aerotek Mark Anthony Villanueva Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. 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. Quaree Singletary uses a bed mattress to shield himself from mace during a struggle in TPD lockup. Villanueva and Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday. Both defendants are charged with one count aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. There are 400+ professionals named "Anthony Villanueva", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Div. The indictment says the booking photo, obtained by The Trentonian, showed Washington, who has sued over the beatdown, with a busted, bloodied lip, nose and swelling and brusing around his left eye. He didnt have a taser, he said. 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. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. 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. Villanueva filed a written report later that night setting forth his account of what happened next. Family members and supporters sat stoically at the back of the courtroom; they declined to comment on the governments case against their loved ones, letting the attorneys to the talking after the hearing. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the community's confidence.. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction while Inman is charged with one count of obstruction in connection to the incident. The violation of civil rights counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Authorities say the driver involved in the stop fled in his vehicle and then on foot as officers pursued. Search the most comprehensive statewide database of police use of force in the U.S. They are charged with violating Washington's civil rights and falsifying police. Suicide Note Revealed After Shocking Death, Indicted! Washington and Salaam Felton, now of St. Charles, Missouri, also claimed in separate lawsuits they were beaten to a pulp by Villanueva. 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. An arrest constitutes only the initiation of charges, and those arrested are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law. They both face more than 30 years in prison if convicted on all counts. The sound picks up after Washington is already on the ground in the first two videos. Inman and Villanueva returned to the police station to prepare reports in connection with the victims arrest. Trenton, NJ. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med. As Felton was walking on a street, not running, Villanueva ran up behind him and punched him in the head several times before tackling him to the ground. He didnt have a flashlight. In the Trenton case, city cops Villanueva and Inman were hit in a six-count indictment that charged civilrights deprivation and falsifying police records. Mar. Another officer ordered Washington to climb over the fence toward him. 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. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. You dont want to come back here. Date published: Jan 28, 2021. All rights reserved (About Us). Trenton Police department was aware of the the investigation and cooperated fully with federal authorities. The indictment was unsealed on Tuesday, and they were both scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. The counts against both officers stem from a traffic stop on April 9, 2017, in Trenton. District of New Jersey 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. 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. On Nov. 28, 2017, Villanueva pepper sprayed a prisoner who was confined to a holding cell at Trenton Police Headquarters, according to authorities. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The incident was caught on body camera. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. 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. I believe that if my client gets a fair hearing he wont be charged.. At no point during this encounter with the defendant did the plaintiff strike, attempt to strike, or intend to strike any of the defendant police officers or any other officer or the law, the lawsuit said. ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. Villanueva was assigned to TPD lockup after. 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. be arrested and re-processed. 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. The videos showing a now-fired Trenton police officer punching and tackling a man with his hands up and pepper-spraying another man in a locked jail cell dont lie, but Anthony Villanueva contends they dont tell the whole story. Singletary picked up a bed mat to shield himself from the mace, pushing past the cop as he ran toward the detention area, before he was finally retained and handcuffed. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. On April 9, 2017 in Trenton, New Jersey, Chanzie Washington allegedly led cops on a car chase and then ran on foot. Quaree Singletary engaged in a struggle with city cop Anthony Villanueva after Villanueva abruptly ended Singletary's phone call to relatives. While the man complied with further police demands, Villanueva punched him in the face and Inman tackled him to the ground, according to investigators. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are probably throwing a party tonight since he was taken off the street. 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. By The Newnan Times-Herald. Villanueva stated he intended to charge Q.S. Villanuevas attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, insists his client didnt punch the man however. 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]. Its inbred in them. Inman and Kieffer III are white and Villanueva is Hispanic. Body cam footage was released of two Trenton Police officers who are accused of assaulting a man while they were arresting him even though he complied with their demands. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The man was eventually surrounded by the officers and complied when he was ordered to put his hands in the air, officials said. Thats what the video shows. All Rights Reserved. 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. They also took Officer Inman into custody at Trenton police headquarters. You're all set! Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Surrounded by police officers, Washington complied when told to raise his hands, according to authorities. My eyes burned for like two, three days.. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, adopted by the states Civil Service Commission, Villanueva and Trenton police officer Drew Inman. Washington complied, according to the indictment, and placed his hands on the fence. Sign up for our free summaries and get the latest delivered directly to you. Swung his arm around his neck and brought him to the ground, he said. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Villanueva also faces three civil lawsuits from Washington, Singletary, and Salaam Felton. On April 9, 2017, Chanzie Washington, of Trenton, fled a routine traffic stop on foot, according to authorities. On November 28, 2017, Villanueva was on duty at the Trenton Police Department Detention Center. 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 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. FBI arrests Trenton police officer at TPD, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), FBI arrests Trenton police officer at TPD headquarters in excessive force investigation, Fox News scandal, cable news, and how gullible we all are (JEFF EDELTSTEIN COLUMN), Tales of El Moreno in Puriscal Costa Rica (L.A. 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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. Trenton attorney Robin Lord represents Washington, Singletary and a third man, Saalam Felton, in separate lawsuits. 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). Sitting next to their attorneys, they remained quiet as U.S. assistant attorney Joseph Gribko briefly recapped the case against them. Villanuevas lawyer said the only people who should be happy about the charges are gang members, gun carriers, and drug sellers. Villanueva, who was standing on the same side of the chain-link fence, suddenly appeared out of nowhere, the feds alleged. Lord was pleased somebody from law enforcement was paying attention and holding these officers accountable for their criminal conduct. "It's a question of respect. He allegedly later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements to conceal his conduct. 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. Villanueva wore all black, his lean frame topped by a mop of curly jet black hair. 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. Theres no evidence that he was punched at that side of his face.. 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. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. The charges and accusations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and Inman and Villanueva are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Docket #: 1879852 Defendant: CHANDLER , ANTHONY Charge: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Arresting Officer: MORTON, STONEY #012, Complaint #: A 029285G 2022 Arrest Date: 7/3/2022 Presiding Judge: ABLES, LARRY Division: 3 Court Room: 3 CJUS8023 Hamilton County General Sessions Court - Criminal Division Trial Docket 3/1/2023 Page No: 3 ar_Master_Docket The arrest of Inman happened a day after the city introduced new police director Sheilah Coley. Inman, who is the son of Hamilton cop Daniel Inman, was later caught on bodycam bragging about the vicious assault saying that he beat the sh** out of Washington, then another officer pointed to his bodycam to cut him off. The lawsuit faults Parrey, who is no longer police director, for not flagging Villanuevas pattern of unreasonable force.. 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. 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. 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.. He was also seen walking coming down the hall shaking the pepper spray as he approached Singletarys cell. 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. NBC10 obtained body cam footage of the incident. The false records counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Jan. 28, 2021) From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research. Man In Easter Bunny Suit Involved In Florida Brawl Wanted In New Jersey For Car Burglaries. 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. 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. 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.. All Rights Reserved. Mayor Reed Gusciora said he was made aware of the arrests but declined to comment beyond that. The capital city cops are accused of using excessive force against suspects Chanzie Washington and Quaree Singletary, during separate arrests, in April and November 2017. Hearing Impaired: 973-645-6227 Officers try to subdue Quaree Singletary during a lengthy struggle in police lockup. If you encounter them, you need to promptly notify your [attorneys]. Villanueva was fired by the police department, and is the subject of three excessive force lawsuits, according to The Trentonian. Inman is not charged in the Singletary incident. The attorney argued that Trenton Police leave their officers unequipped far too often. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Pa. Woman Went Missing in 1992 and Declared Dead. 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. A-4302-18T3 (App. 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. Stephen Varn, who is serving as acting police director while Lt. Chris Doyle is on vacation, confirmed Inmans arrest at TPD headquarters. A locked padlock 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.
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