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. "It's perfectly proper the way he handled himself," Villanueva's attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, said. Police Department Kanifah M. Wood, Trenton Police Department Eric W. Woodrow, West Windsor Police Department. The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. He didnt have a baton. 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. If you encounter them, you need to promptly notify your [attorneys]. The man tells the officers, Stop hitting me in my face.". It was not immediately clear if that charge was dropped. Villanueva and Inman were each ordered released on $50,000 unsecured bonds with conditions. The man was eventually surrounded by the officers and complied when he was ordered to put his hands in the air, officials said. All the gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are all gonna be happy tonight that Anthonys no longer a police officer, Ballarotto said. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. 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. Accountability starts from the top.. Villanueva arrested Felton in March 2017 following a foot pursuit following a reported shooting. All say they were beaten up by Villanueva. Villanueva and Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday. Trenton, NJ. The incident was caught on body camera. And then you have the old regime supervising these people. 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. 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 came up from Washingtons side and punched him in the face while Inman tackled him to the ground. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. He didnt have a taser, he said. Villanueva was fired by the police department, and is the subject of three excessive force lawsuits, according to The Trentonian. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. / CBS Philadelphia. Quaree Singletary uses a bed mattress to shield himself from mace during a struggle in TPD lockup. Yo, why would you do that, he recalled saying. Villanuevas lawyer said the only people who should be happy about the charges are gang members, gun carriers, and drug sellers. The attorney argued that Trenton Police leave their officers unequipped far too often. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. TRENTON A Trenton police officer and a former colleague accused of assaulting a man during an arrest have pleaded not guilty to civil rights violations and obstruction of justice charges. Villanueva was fired by Trenton police last summer for an alleged pattern of excessive force. On April 9, 2017 in Trenton, New Jersey, Chanzie Washington allegedly led cops on a car chase and then ran on foot. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. 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. In re Villanueva. His father was a police officer. Its a whole family of public servants in the city of Trenton, he said. 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. 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 charges and accusations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and Inman and Villanueva are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. While Washington was complying, Villanueva punched him in the face. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the communitys confidence.. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. 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. On November 28, 2017, Villanueva was on duty at the Trenton Police Department Detention Center. Its inbred in them. Two Trenton officers involved in arresting Washington after a foot chase in April of 2017 are now facing federal charges. Attorney Robin Lord is seeing her client Chanzie Washington's claims of police brutality vindicated. 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.. 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. Singletary and his attorneys may be banking on power in numbers. Sounds likeVillanueva was under the misconception that police solidarity may is the same if you are a person of color. Villanueva grabbed a bottle of mace from the detention area. Newark, NJ 07102, Newark:973-645-2700 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. His report on that incident included a number of false statements in an attempt to hide his unlawful conduct and improper treatment of the prisoner, authorities said. 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. 3/6/2023 6352640 villanueva gonz george 3/6/2023 6522314 wilson steven 3/7/2023 6548196 carrillo carlos 3/7/2023 6523835 davis rodney . Capt. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. 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. While the man complied with further police demands, Villanueva punched him in the face and Inman tackled him to the ground, according to investigators. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. He allegedly later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements to conceal his conduct. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. Mar. 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. _____ Submitted January 12, 2021 - Decided Before Judges Haas, Mawla, and Natali. 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 Newnan Times-Herald. As Singletary headed toward his cell and the door closed behind him, the cop sprayed him with the stinging mace, affecting nearby prisoners. The indictment was unsealed on Tuesday, and they were both scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. Police work is difficult and dangerous, but officers need to respect the civil rights of the people they are policing, Carpenito said. The violation of civil rights counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. All the charges against Felton were later dropped. Inman and Kieffer III are white and Villanueva is Hispanic. Quaree Singletary engaged in a struggle with city cop Anthony Villanueva after Villanueva abruptly ended Singletary's phone call to relatives. 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. Former officer Anthony Villanueva and current officer Drew Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday afternoon. Villanueva wore all black, his lean frame topped by a mop of curly jet black hair. 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. 970 Broad Street, 7th Floor The false records counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 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]. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. Villanueva stated he intended to charge Q.S. Video of the incident showed Singletary strolling unaccompanied down the hall leading to the jail cells and entering the cell. The incident was recorded on other officers body cams. Villanueva also faces three civil lawsuits from Washington, Singletary, and Salaam Felton. 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. April 23, 2019 / 6:49 PM Inman is still on restricted duty and Kieffer III is on the streets. 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. Trenton attorney Robin Lord represents Washington, Singletary and a third man, Saalam Felton, in separate lawsuits. Villanueva has several other issues pending from his four years on the Trenton police force, which all occurred in 2017. Inman, sporting the shaved-head look, was still attired in his Trenton Police garb of a black polo shirt and cargo pants. Singletary was charged with assaulting Villanueva. That came one day after they made their initial court appearances and were each released on $50,000 bail. On Tuesday, Villanueva was arrested by the FBI at his home. provided by mercer county prosecutors office, Chanzie Washington's mugshot after being arrested April 9, 2017. FAX: 856-968-4917 The sound picks up after Washington is already on the ground in the first two videos. Its inbred in internal affairs. 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. 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. Former officer Anthony Villanueva and current officer Drew Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say the driver involved in the stop fled in his vehicle and then on foot as officers pursued. Singletary, who also sued Villanueva and the department over his treatment that day, told the newspaper in a previous interview his eyes burned for like two, three days after he was maced. 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 only way to eradicate the excessive abuse in the Trenton police department is by firing them all and starting all over again, she said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Mayor Reed Gusciora said he was made aware of the arrests but declined to comment beyond that. Passaic Clinton, Hunterdon Trenton, Mercer Tuckerton, Ocean Union Beach, Monmouth Union City, Hudson Union Township, . So far no charges have been brought against Villanueva, who was cut loose by TPD last year. 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. The FBI was investigating Inman, former TPD officer Anthony Villanueva, and Mark Kieffer III in connection with the April 2017 arrest of Chanzie Washington. Body cam footage obtained by NBC10 shows the man on the ground and crying out in pain while officers are on top of him. He is fighting to get his job back. 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. There are 400+ professionals named "Anthony Villanueva", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. He was fired in June 2018. They punched him numerous times while Washington cried out, stop hitting me, and youve got my hands.. A-4302-18T3 (App. 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. 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. They also took Officer Inman into custody at Trenton police headquarters. 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. Sitting next to their attorneys, they remained quiet as U.S. assistant attorney Joseph Gribko briefly recapped the case against them. 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. 3/5/2023 6529843 reed anthony 3/5/2023 6391927 reyes ignacio 3/5/2023 6553956 rodriguez jonatan 3/5/2023 6547498 salinas ricardo . Ballarotto plans to hire a police expert to testify that the officer's physicality was within the law. 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. 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. Jan. 28, 2021) From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research. Villanuevas charges also related to his macing of a suspect in police lockup in 2017, according to the six-count indictment. Authorities said Villanueva punched the driver in the face and Inman tackled him. Another officer ordered Washington to climb over the fence toward him. The video shows a fence separated Washington from most of the officers, who had their guns trained on him. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction, in connection with that incident. As the cell door began to close and was almost shut, Villanueva sprayed the chemical agent inside. Swung his arm around his neck and brought him to the ground, he said. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. Like our content? . Its inbred in the academy. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction while Inman is charged with one count of obstruction in connection to the incident. FAX: 609-989-2275. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. A number of officers went around to the other side of the fence, including one officer equipped with a body camera. 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.