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 public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. Villanueva stated he intended to charge Q.S. "It's a question of respect. Trenton police officers chased him down. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. NBC10 obtained body cam footage of the incident. Video of the incident showed Singletary strolling unaccompanied down the hall leading to the jail cells and entering the cell. Villanueva was fired by the police department, and is the subject of three excessive force lawsuits, according to The Trentonian. The attorney argued that Trenton Police leave their officers unequipped far too often. Inmans lawyer has declined to comment. Trimboli & Prusinowski, LLC, attorneys for respondent City of Trenton . Inman, sporting the shaved-head look, was still attired in his Trenton Police garb of a black polo shirt and cargo pants. Ballarotto said his client cooperated with the feds and testified at an administrative law hearing. 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. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. You can explore additional available newsletters here. The department found Villanueva violated policy, and charged him internally with conduct unbecoming a public employee and misconduct for the improper use of the spray, and later submitting a false report about the incident. Investigators said he pepper sprayed a defendant while in a holding cell area of Trenton police headquarters. 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. TPD officers were on the other side waiting for Washington, who immediately gave himself up and raised his hands in the air, the indictment says. 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. He didnt have a baton. Thats not what this was.. provided by mercer county prosecutors office, Chanzie Washington's mugshot after being arrested April 9, 2017. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the community's confidence.. 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. 3/5/2023 6529843 reed anthony 3/5/2023 6391927 reyes ignacio 3/5/2023 6553956 rodriguez jonatan 3/5/2023 6547498 salinas ricardo . Villanueva later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements designed to conceal his unlawful conduct and improper treatment of the prisoner. 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. Villanueva was fired last year and faces a separate federal charge for allegedly pepper spraying a man in a police holding cell.
Its inbred in them. He was assisted that night by a police aide (the aide). 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. 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. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. If you encounter them, you need to promptly notify your [attorneys]. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. They both face more than 30 years in prison if convicted on all counts. All rights reserved (About Us). While the man complied with further police demands, Villanueva punched him in the face and Inman tackled him to the ground, according to investigators. He only had three things. 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. In the second incident, Villanueva is charged with depriving a man of his civil rights and obstruction of justice. 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. As I reached for the phone, Singletary smacked my hand out of the way.. 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 appeals court fully backed the OAL judge, Jeff Masin, in his findings that Villanueva was properly terminated. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Two Trenton officers involved in arresting Washington after a foot chase in April of 2017 are now facing federal charges. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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 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. 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. be arrested and re-processed. Swung his arm around his neck and brought him to the ground, he said. Camden:856-757-5026
The indictment also recounted Villanuevas Nov. 28, 2017 encounter with Quaree Singletary inside TPD headquarters. On April 9, 2017 in Trenton, New Jersey, Chanzie Washington allegedly led cops on a car chase and then ran on foot. The Trentonian reported on those dustups, both of which were caught on tape. 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. 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). Newark, NJ 07102, Newark:973-645-2700
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Inman and Villanueva returned to the police station to prepare reports in connection with the victims arrest. Those cops beat the living sh** out of Rodney King, and those cops overstepped their bounds. Both Inman and Villanueva were granted unsecured bail on Tuesday, meaning they can go home. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED). This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division - Unpublished Opinions, New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division - Unpublished Opinions Decisions. 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. Like our content? Trenton attorney Robin Lord represents Washington, Singletary and a third man, Saalam Felton, in separate lawsuits. The whole scuffle was caught on surveillance cameras and the footage was released to The Trentonian. 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 punched him numerous times while Washington cried out, stop hitting me, and youve got my hands.. However, the lawsuit painted Singletary as a blameless victim. I snuck up from behind him and just punched him, he just fell, Villanueva says, mocking Felton by quoting him, You didnt got to punch me man.. Lord was pleased somebody from law enforcement was paying attention and holding these officers accountable for their criminal conduct. Villanueva arrested Felton in March 2017 following a foot pursuit following a reported shooting. Without issuing any warning or command, defendant Villanueva moved swiftly towards victim 1 and punched victim 1 in the face, the indictment states. Trenton Police department was aware of the the investigation and cooperated fully with federal authorities. Attorneys Molly Lorber, Joseph Gribko and Ray Mateo of the U.S. Attorney=s Office Criminal Division in Trenton in the criminal case. 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. Washington complied, according to the indictment, and placed his hands on the fence. He was also seen walking coming down the hall shaking the pepper spray as he approached Singletarys cell. In the Trenton case, city cops Villanueva and Inman were hit in a six-count indictment that charged civilrights deprivation and falsifying police records. By The Newnan Times-Herald. Chanzie Washington was pummeled by cops during an arrest in April 2017. TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- Two Trenton police officers are now in trouble with the law. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Our journalism needs your support. First published on April 23, 2019 / 6:49 PM. 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. In re Villanueva. 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. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are probably throwing a party tonight since he was taken off the street. Theres no evidence that he was punched at that side of his face.. . Villanueva, who was eventually fired by the city department and is fighting to get his job back, had been pulled off the streets and re-assigned to lockup following a separate altercation months before with Chanzie Washington. The man tells the officers, Stop hitting me in my face.". Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. 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. Singletary was charged with assaulting Villanueva. Villanueva and Inman were among this group. His father was a police officer. A-4302-18T3 (App. Kieffer III, the son of Capt. Please enter valid email address to continue. All rights reserved, Philly POPS Musicians Disappointed' by Recent Moves, Trump Supporters Get Parole in Philadelphia Weapons Case, Check Your Change! 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. _____ Submitted January 12, 2021 - Decided Before Judges Haas, Mawla, and Natali. Dougherty believes the city made a pile of mistakes investigating Villanueva, including not interviewing his client or his supervising sergeant. Jan. 28, 2021) From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research. TPD Officer Drew Inman, center, was caught on tape punching a suspect in the face while other cops placed him in cuffs. The appropriate departmental administrative actions will be taken, he said. We will have problems if you do.. The incident was caught on body camera. 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. Sign up for our free summaries and get the latest delivered directly to you. Inman is not charged in the Singletary incident. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction while Inman is charged with one count of obstruction in connection to the incident. 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 Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. "It's perfectly proper the way he handled himself," Villanueva's attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, said. Singletary and his attorneys may be banking on power in numbers. He allegedly later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements to conceal his conduct. Authorities said Villanueva punched the driver in the face and Inman tackled him. He didnt have a flashlight. ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Singletary has said he was visited by fed who wanted to know more about the altercation with Villanueva. The beginning of the videos dont include sound until after Washington is struck, so it is unclear what led the officers to tackle Washington to the ground. Ballarotto said his client is being unfairly vilified as a rogue cop, and he believes the ex-TPDer will get cleared. Inman is still on restricted duty and Kieffer III is on the streets. 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. The violation of civil rights counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Im hopeful there will be more to come.. Mar. 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. The sound picks up after Washington is already on the ground in the first two videos. 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. Mark Kieffer Jr., was not charged in the indictment and not mentioned by name. 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. 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. The counts against both officers stem from a traffic stop on April 9, 2017, in Trenton. Sign up for NewsOne's email newsletter! A locked padlock The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was. DOCKET NO. There are 400+ professionals named "Anthony Villanueva", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. 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. Surrounded by police officers, Washington complied when told to raise his hands, according to authorities. (Image via YouTube) TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by. Each man did not speak other than to acknowledge the judge when she advised them of their right to remain silent. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Villanueva wore all black, his lean frame topped by a mop of curly jet black hair. 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. Both men are charged with aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. Body cam footage obtained by NBC10 shows the man on the ground and crying out in pain while officers are on top of him. 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. They cannot travel outside of the U.S., must surrender passports and firearms and avoid contact with victims and witnesses in the case, and with each other, when theyre outside the presence of their attorneys. Washington and Salaam Felton, now of St. Charles, Missouri, also claimed in separate lawsuits they were beaten to a pulp by Villanueva. Trenton, NJ. 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. 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. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and former Trenton Police Officer Anthony Villanueva were charged in a six-count indictment two years after an incident in which they knocked a Trenton man to the ground during an arrest, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. 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. The arrest of Inman happened a day after the city introduced new police director Sheilah Coley. Thats his gun, his physical strength and his courage.. It aint no joke. 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.. The arresting departments are noted: Coweta County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), Chattahoochee Hills Police Department (CHPD . EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Valley Forge Military Academy Cadet Speaks To CBS3 About Alleged Verbal, Physical Abuse At Hands Of Students. Yo, why would you do that, he recalled saying. 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. The federal case against them was initially scheduled for trial in 2020, but has been repeatedly postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The charges and accusations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and Inman and Villanueva are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Sitting next to their attorneys, they remained quiet as U.S. assistant attorney Joseph Gribko briefly recapped the case against them. While Washington was complying, Villanueva punched him in the face. . 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. You're all set! District of New Jersey
As the cell door began to close and was almost shut, Villanueva sprayed the chemical agent inside. Anthony Villanueva, then 25, after leaving U.S. District Court in Trenton in an April 2019 file photo.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med. Citations Copy Citation. All rights reserved (About Us). Villanueva, who has since left the police department, is also charged with assaulting a prisoner in a separate incident. 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. Villanueva maced Singletary while he was inside a cell after a dustup that started when, the cop claimed, Singletary refused to get off the phone. All Rights Reserved. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. 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. Officer Anthony Villanueva sprays Quaree Singletary with mace during a lengthy struggle in TPD lockup. Villanueva, who was standing on the same side of the chain-link fence, suddenly appeared out of nowhere, the feds alleged. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. 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. A six-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Trenton last week, unsealed Tuesday, charged Villanueva and Inman with deprivation of civil rights under color of law and falsifying police records. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Villanueva was fired in June 2018 and was in the process of fighting to get his job back. 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TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by federal agents and charged with assault and obstruction of justice, authorities announced on Tuesday. Scott Krasny, Inmans attorney, declined to comment. As Singletary headed toward his cell and the door closed behind him, the cop sprayed him with the stinging mace, affecting nearby prisoners. All the charges against Felton were later dropped. Villanueva also faces charges in connection to another incident in which he allegedly pepper sprayed a defendant in a holding cell. He plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court. |. Investigators say Inman and Villanueva prepared and submitted false and fraudulent reports in order to justify their actions and portray the man as the aggressor and an ongoing threat. 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. The indictment describes the assault like this: Victim 2 walked calmly, unescorted, into a cell denoted in Trenton Police Department records as Cell 7, and the door to Cell 7 began to close behind him, locking him in.