with assault on a police officer, which required that Q.S. A locked padlock 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. 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. 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. 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. First published on April 23, 2019 / 6:49 PM. Villanueva was fired by the police department, and is the subject of three excessive force lawsuits, according to The Trentonian. You can explore additional available newsletters here. He is also charged with additional civil rights and obstruction counts in connection to a separate incident in November 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.. Aerotek Mark Anthony Villanueva 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. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Villanuevas charges also related to his macing of a suspect in police lockup in 2017, according to the six-count indictment. He plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court. 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 was assigned to TPD lockup after. Quaree Singletary uses a bed mattress to shield himself from mace during a struggle in TPD lockup. On appeal from the New Jersey Civil Service . 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. Search the most comprehensive statewide database of police use of force in the U.S. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. Villanueva filed a written report later that night setting forth his account of what happened next. 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. On Tuesday, Villanueva was arrested by the FBI at his home. 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. Villanueva wore all black, his lean frame topped by a mop of curly jet black hair. Katz & Dougherty, LLC, attorneys for appellant Anthony Villanueva (George T. Dougherty , on the briefs). The man was eventually surrounded by the officers and complied when he was ordered to put his hands in the air, officials said. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. All say they were beaten up by Villanueva. All rights reserved, Philly POPS Musicians Disappointed' by Recent Moves, Trump Supporters Get Parole in Philadelphia Weapons Case, Check Your Change! 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. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the communitys confidence.. TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- Two Trenton police officers are now in trouble with the law. Body cam footage obtained by NBC10 shows the man on the ground and crying out in pain while officers are on top of him. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Police Department Kanifah M. Wood, Trenton Police Department Eric W. Woodrow, West Windsor Police Department. The appeals court fully backed the OAL judge, Jeff Masin, in his findings that Villanueva was properly terminated. He didnt have a taser, he said. This is not a Rodney King situation, he said. Its inbred in internal affairs. Enter the name of a police department or an officer: Press to expand search. Stephen Varn, who is serving as acting police director while Lt. Chris Doyle is on vacation, confirmed Inmans arrest at TPD headquarters. He is fighting to get his job back. Villanueva was fired last year and faces a separate federal charge for allegedly pepper spraying a man in a police holding cell. I dont want you back here because of a mistake. 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 came up from Washingtons side and punched him in the face while Inman tackled him to the ground. Felton said in suit that he was beaten so badly during his arrest he suffered bleeding on the brain and other injuries. All the gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are all gonna be happy tonight that Anthonys no longer a police officer, Ballarotto said. Sounds likeVillanueva was under the misconception that police solidarity may is the same if you are a person of color. 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 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. The violation of civil rights counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A-4302-18T3 (App. You dont want to come back here. 3/5/2023 6529843 reed anthony 3/5/2023 6391927 reyes ignacio 3/5/2023 6553956 rodriguez jonatan 3/5/2023 6547498 salinas ricardo . Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction while Inman is charged with one count of obstruction in connection to the incident. 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. Suicide Note Revealed After Shocking Death, Indicted! / CBS Philadelphia. Villanueva, who was standing on the same side of the chain-link fence, suddenly appeared out of nowhere, the feds alleged. Lock 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. 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. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. I never want to be maced again in my life, Singletary previously told this newspaper. 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. TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by federal agents and charged with assault and obstruction of justice, authorities announced on Tuesday. He was fired in June 2018. California residents do not sell my data request. 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. However, the lawsuit painted Singletary as a blameless victim. Sitting next to their attorneys, they remained quiet as U.S. assistant attorney Joseph Gribko briefly recapped the case against them. Thats what the video shows. The violation of civil rights counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Sign up for our free summaries and get the latest delivered directly to you. He only had three things. 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). Jan. 28, 2021) From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research. Another officer ordered Washington to climb over the fence toward him. They punched him numerous times while Washington cried out, stop hitting me, and youve got my hands.. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. The indictment recounts the chase from start to finish, as Washington ended up at the banks of the Delaware and Raritan Canal. Villanueva arrested Felton in March 2017 following a foot pursuit following a reported shooting. His father was a police officer. Her first official day isnt till May 1. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. April 23, 2019 / 6:49 PM It was not immediately clear if that charge was dropped. 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. Inman has been with the department a little more than two years and makes more than $57,000 in annual salary. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. The Trentonian reported on those dustups, both of which were caught on tape. Attorney Robin Lord is seeing her client Chanzie Washington's claims of police brutality vindicated. 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. 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. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. Sign up for NewsOne's email newsletter! 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. It isn't entirely clear what is happening in the third video, which was shot from a distance. 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. (Image via YouTube) TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. 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. And then you have the old regime supervising these people. 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 false records counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 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. 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 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. Trenton Police department was aware of the the investigation and cooperated fully with federal authorities. Inman is still on restricted duty and Kieffer III is on the streets. Chanzie Washington was pummeled by cops during an arrest in April 2017. Former officer Anthony Villanueva and current officer Drew Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday afternoon. Washington complied, according to the indictment, and placed his hands on the fence. 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.. "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. Body camera footage showed Villanueva tracking down, tackling and punching Felton in the head twice from behind following a foot chase in March 2017. While the man complied with further police demands, Villanueva punched him in the face and Inman tackled him to the ground, according to investigators. 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. 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. 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. In the footage below, the officers are heard yelling at Washington. 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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It aint no joke. 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. Thats his gun, his physical strength and his courage.. Both men are charged with aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. 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 are accused of assaulting a man during a traffic stop in 2017. Washington jumped into the canal and swam to the opposite bank, climbing up a steep, brush-lined embankment near a parking lot. The gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are probably throwing a party tonight since he was taken off the street. 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. 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. They also took Officer Inman into custody at Trenton police headquarters. 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. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. Villanueva, who has since left the police department, is also charged with assaulting a prisoner in a separate incident. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Officers try to subdue Quaree Singletary during a lengthy struggle in police lockup. Villanueva also faces charges in connection to another incident in which he allegedly pepper sprayed a defendant in a holding cell. He didnt have a flashlight. The incident was caught on body camera. Mark Kieffer Jr., was not charged in the indictment and not mentioned by name. Villanueva faces additional charges for allegedly assaulting a prisoner who was in a holding cell. Trenton police officers chased him down. 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. An arrest constitutes only the initiation of charges, and those arrested are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law. That case is pending in federal 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. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. All Rights Reserved. Date published: Jan 28, 2021. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. The man was eventually surrounded by Trenton police officers and complied when he was ordered to put his hands in the air. Yo, why would you do that, he recalled saying. Villanueva stated he intended to charge Q.S. He allegedly later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements to conceal his conduct. The attorney argued that Trenton Police leave their officers unequipped far too often. 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.. Those cops beat the living sh** out of Rodney King, and those cops overstepped their bounds. Theres no evidence that he was punched at that side of his face.. 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. 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. Man In Easter Bunny Suit Involved In Florida Brawl Wanted In New Jersey For Car Burglaries. 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. NBC10 obtained body cam footage of the incident.. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. 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. In the Trenton case, city cops Villanueva and Inman were hit in a six-count indictment that charged civilrights deprivation and falsifying police records. Quaree Singletary engaged in a struggle with city cop Anthony Villanueva after Villanueva abruptly ended Singletary's phone call to relatives. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Accountability starts from the top.. The video shows a fence separated Washington from most of the officers, who had their guns trained on him. 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. 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. Bongiovanni ordered the government to turn over to the defense the names of any witnesses and victims so there wasnt any confusion. 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. Inman and Kieffer III are white and Villanueva is Hispanic. . A police aide rushed to try to help subdue Singletary, who allegedly elbowed Villanueva during the altercation. 970 Broad Street, 7th Floor Ballarotto plans to hire a police expert to testify that the officer's physicality was within the law. The counts against both officers stem from a traffic stop on April 9, 2017, in Trenton. So far no charges have been brought against Villanueva, who was cut loose by TPD last year. Im hopeful there will be more to come.. Inmans lawyer has declined to comment. Villanueva later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements designed to conceal his unlawful conduct and improper treatment of the prisoner. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. 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. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. Inman and Villanueva returned to the police station to prepare reports in connection with the victims arrest. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. FAX: 609-989-2275. The arresting departments are noted: Coweta County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), Chattahoochee Hills Police Department (CHPD . Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 Both Villanueva and Inman were charged in April 2019 with aiding and abetting each other in depriving the civil rights of Chanzie Washington in April 2017. Personally, its devastating to him, Hes got a family. The sound picks up after Washington is already on the ground in the first two videos. The whole scuffle was caught on surveillance cameras and the footage was released to The Trentonian. Anthony Villanueva, Trenton Police Department Adam L. Wills, Pemberton Twp. The arrest of Inman happened a day after the city introduced new police director Sheilah Coley. Both Inman and Villanueva were granted unsecured bail on Tuesday, meaning they can go home. Passaic Clinton, Hunterdon Trenton, Mercer Tuckerton, Ocean Union Beach, Monmouth Union City, Hudson Union Township, . The appropriate departmental administrative actions will be taken, he said. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction, in connection with that incident. My eyes burned for like two, three days.. Investigators said he pepper sprayed a defendant while in a holding cell area of Trenton police headquarters. 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. provided by mercer county prosecutors office, Chanzie Washington's mugshot after being arrested April 9, 2017. 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 Former officer Anthony Villanueva and current officer Drew Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday afternoon. "It's a question of respect. Inman is not charged in the Singletary incident. 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. Its inbred all over. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Authorities said Villanueva punched the driver in the face and Inman tackled him. The charges and accusations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and Inman and Villanueva are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED). The incident was recorded on other officers body cams. 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.