That decision was then adopted by the states Civil Service Commission. WATCH: Video shows altercation in Trenton Police lockup that got In re Villanueva, DOCKET NO. A-4302-18T3 | Casetext Search + Citator 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 the gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are all gonna be happy tonight that Anthonys no longer a police officer, Ballarotto said. 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. PDF Inmate Release Report According to Trentonian , 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. . I feel that although [the arrests] are a positive step toward change, its too little too late, she said. DOCKET NO. All say they were beaten up by Villanueva. Villanuevas lawyer said the only people who should be happy about the charges are gang members, gun carriers, and drug sellers. FAX: 609-989-2275. ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Pa. Woman Went Missing in 1992 and Declared Dead. Villanueva came up from Washingtons side and punched him in the face while Inman tackled him to the ground. 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. Suicide Note Revealed After Shocking Death, Indicted! I believe that if my client gets a fair hearing he wont be charged.. While Washington was complying, Villanueva punched him in the face. 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Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. On Tuesday, Villanueva was arrested by the FBI at his home. 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.. Lord was pleased somebody from law enforcement was paying attention and holding these officers accountable for their criminal conduct. 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. Anthony Villanueva, Trenton Police Department Adam L. Wills, Pemberton Twp. All the charges against Felton were later dropped. The charges against both men stem from an April 2017 traffic stop in Trenton. Its inbred in internal affairs. Villanueva, who was standing on the same side of the chain-link fence, suddenly appeared out of nowhere, the feds alleged. 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. They punched him numerous times while Washington cried out, stop hitting me, and youve got my hands.. Sounds likeVillanueva was under the misconception that police solidarity may is the same if you are a person of color. Who is Anthony McRae, the suspected Michigan State mass shooter? - ABC News Official websites use .gov Trenton Police department was aware of the the investigation and cooperated fully with federal authorities. However, the lawsuit painted Singletary as a blameless victim. 2 Trenton Police Officers Facing Federal Charges After - CBS News 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. 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. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Video of the incident showed Singletary strolling unaccompanied down the hall leading to the jail cells and entering the cell. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Former officer Anthony Villanueva and current officer Drew Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday afternoon. 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. Kieffer III, the son of Capt. Villanueva and Inman, their hands shackled in front of them, appeared Tuesday afternoon before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni. "It's perfectly proper the way he handled himself," Villanueva's attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, said. 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. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the community's confidence.. Not for Publication Without the Approval of The Appellate Division 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 fired last year and faces a separate federal charge for allegedly pepper spraying a man in a police holding cell. Bongiovanni ordered the government to turn over to the defense the names of any witnesses and victims so there wasnt any confusion. Villanueva also faces three civil lawsuits from Washington, Singletary, and Salaam Felton. He didnt have a taser, he said. The city of Trenton police officers, the majority of them, do not have any respect for the citizens, they just absolutely do not," Lord 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. 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. 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. Investigators said he pepper sprayed a defendant while in a holding cell area of Trenton police headquarters. Ballarotto plans to hire a police expert to testify that the officer's physicality was within the law. Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. Im hopeful there will be more to come.. So far no charges have been brought against Villanueva, who was cut loose by TPD last year. 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.. Inman and Villanueva returned to the police station to prepare reports in connection with the victims arrest. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. FAX: 856-968-4917 An official website of the United States government. The attorney argued that Trenton Police leave their officers unequipped far too often. The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was indicted by federal government for the 2017 incident on accusations he deprived the man of his civil rights. 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. It burns. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Washington complied, according to the indictment, and placed his hands on the fence. 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. Body cam footage obtained by NBC10 shows the man on the ground and crying out in pain while officers are on top of him. Man In Easter Bunny Suit Involved In Florida Brawl Wanted In New Jersey For Car Burglaries. 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. 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. On Nov. 28, 2017, Villanueva pepper sprayed a prisoner who was confined to a holding cell at Trenton Police Headquarters, according to authorities. They also took Officer Inman into custody at Trenton police headquarters. 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. Inman is not charged in the Singletary incident. 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. Trenton:609-989-2190 By The Newnan Times-Herald. 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.. 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. TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- Two Trenton police officers are now in trouble with the law. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Have a question about Government Services? Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. And then you have the old regime supervising these people. This is not a Rodney King situation, he said. A number of officers went around to the other side of the fence, including one officer equipped with a body camera. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Villanueva grabbed a bottle of mace from the detention area. 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. You can explore additional available newsletters here. 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. 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. 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. With your experience, Im sure youre familiar with your Fifth Amendment rights, Bongiovanni said during the 10-minute court appearance. As I reached for the phone, Singletary smacked my hand out of the way.. They both face more than 30 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Villanueva was fired by the police department, and is the subject of three excessive force lawsuits, according to The Trentonian. 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. Inman is still on restricted duty and Kieffer III is on the streets. 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. Each man did not speak other than to acknowledge the judge when she advised them of their right to remain silent. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. Katz & Dougherty, LLC, attorneys for appellant Anthony Villanueva (George T. Dougherty , on the briefs). Villanueva wore all black, his lean frame topped by a mop of curly jet black hair. Those cops beat the living sh** out of Rodney King, and those cops overstepped their bounds. Chanzie Washington was pummeled by cops during an arrest in April 2017. The indictment recounts the chase from start to finish, as Washington ended up at the banks of the Delaware and Raritan Canal. Lock In the footage below, the officers are heard yelling at Washington. The violation of civil rights counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. On November 28, 2017, Villanueva was on duty at the Trenton Police Department Detention Center. Div. 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. You're all set! 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. 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. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Villanueva arrested Felton in March 2017 following a foot pursuit following a reported shooting. Trenton, NJ. The federal case against them was initially scheduled for trial in 2020, but has been repeatedly postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. As Singletary headed toward his cell and the door closed behind him, the cop sprayed him with the stinging mace, affecting nearby prisoners. 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. 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. Get free summaries of new New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division - Unpublished Opinions opinions delivered to your inbox! Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med. The video also captured Villanueva bragging about the arrest later on a phone call. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 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). Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. Villanueva also faces charges in connection to another incident in which he allegedly pepper sprayed a defendant in a holding cell. Its inbred in the academy. A police aide rushed to try to help subdue Singletary, who allegedly elbowed Villanueva during the altercation. The sound picks up after Washington is already on the ground in the first two videos. The incident was caught on body camera. N.J. court backs firing of cop who pepper sprayed suspect in jail cell Both men are charged with aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. FAX:973-645-2702 Full title: IN THE MATTER OF ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. Please enter valid email address to continue. The violation of civil rights counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The arrest of Inman happened a day after the city introduced new police director Sheilah Coley. (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED). HCSO-Criminal Investigative Division-Open Warrant Info FUll List You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. As the cell door began to close and was almost shut, Villanueva sprayed the chemical agent inside. I never want to be maced again in my life, Singletary previously told this newspaper. Attorney Robin Lord is seeing her client Chanzie Washington's claims of police brutality vindicated. Body Cam Footage Shows Trenton Officers Accused of Assaulting Man The man was eventually surrounded by the officers and complied when he was ordered to put his hands in the air, officials said. Her first official day isnt till May 1. 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. Villanueva was assigned to TPD lockup after. 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. It isn't entirely clear what is happening in the third video, which was shot from a distance. Villanueva and Inman knowingly made numerous misrepresentations, false statements and omissions in an effort to portray Victim 1 as the aggressor and an ongoing threat, the indictment says. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. 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. Quaree Singletary uses a bed mattress to shield himself from mace during a struggle in TPD lockup. Surrounded by police officers, Washington complied when told to raise his hands, according to authorities. As I reached for the phone, Singletary smacked my hand out of the way.. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. Accountability starts from the top.. 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. Arrest Log: February 2022 - The Newnan Times-Herald Thats not what this was.. Aerotek Mark Anthony Villanueva Its a whole family of public servants in the city of Trenton, he said. 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. Mar. Personally, its devastating to him, Hes got a family. |. 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. Another officer ordered Washington to climb over the fence toward him. The man who the officers arrested is no longer in jail and his eluding and obstruction charges were later dropped. 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 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. The arresting departments are noted: Coweta County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), Chattahoochee Hills Police Department (CHPD . She sounded indignant as she discussed her decades-long struggle to help clients who described being beaten up and abused by TPD officers.