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. Villanueva, who has since left the police department, is also charged with assaulting a prisoner in a separate incident. Theres no evidence that he was punched at that side of his face.. An arrest constitutes only the initiation of charges, and those arrested are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law. All rights reserved (About Us). Trenton attorney Robin Lord represents Washington, Singletary and a third man, Saalam Felton, in separate lawsuits. On appeal from the New Jersey Civil Service . The whole scuffle was caught on surveillance cameras and the footage was released to The Trentonian. Personally, its devastating to him, Hes got a family. Villanueva came up from Washingtons side and punched him in the face while Inman tackled him to the ground. . Its inbred in internal affairs. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Villanuevas attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, insists his client didnt punch the man however. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. District of New Jersey 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. TPD Officer Drew Inman, center, was caught on tape punching a suspect in the face while other cops placed him in cuffs. 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 false records counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 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. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. A police aide rushed to try to help subdue Singletary, who allegedly elbowed Villanueva during the altercation. You can explore additional available newsletters here. 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. Footage from the incident that was obtained by The Trentonian via public records request can be seen below. The indictment says Villanueva also lied on his report, a copy of which was obtained by this newspaper, intending to impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation. The charges against both men stem from an April 2017 traffic stop in Trenton. DOCKET NO. Singletary and his attorneys may be banking on power in numbers. 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. They are accused of assaulting a man during a traffic stop in 2017. Like our content? Mar. (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED). As Felton was walking on a street, not running, Villanueva ran up behind him and punched him in the head several times before tackling him to the ground. He didnt have a baton. 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. A number of officers went around to the other side of the fence, including one officer equipped with a body camera. The two appeared to exchange words in the soundless video moments before tempers flared. 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 man was eventually surrounded by Trenton police officers and complied when he was ordered to put his hands in the air. Officers try to subdue Quaree Singletary during a lengthy struggle in police lockup. The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was indicted by federal government for the 2017 incident on accusations he deprived the man of his civil rights. He plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court. Villanueva later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements designed to conceal his unlawful conduct and improper treatment of the prisoner. 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. Authorities said Villanueva punched the driver in the face and Inman tackled him. While Washington was complying, Villanueva punched him in the face. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Chanzie Washington was pummeled by cops during an arrest in April 2017. 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. Get free summaries of new New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division - Unpublished Opinions opinions delivered to your inbox! Quaree Singletary uses a bed mattress to shield himself from mace during a struggle in TPD lockup. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. At no time during this encounter did the plaintiff harass, or threaten the defendants, nor engage in any conduct, which in any way justified the excessive force used by defendants.. 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. They are charged with violating Washington's civil rights and falsifying police. Passaic Clinton, Hunterdon Trenton, Mercer Tuckerton, Ocean Union Beach, Monmouth Union City, Hudson Union Township, . Sitting next to their attorneys, they remained quiet as U.S. assistant attorney Joseph Gribko briefly recapped the case against them. All Rights Reserved. So far no charges have been brought against Villanueva, who was cut loose by TPD last year. The arresting departments are noted: Coweta County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), Chattahoochee Hills Police Department (CHPD . April 23, 2019 / 6:49 PM You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. Two Trenton officers involved in arresting Washington after a foot chase in April of 2017 are now facing federal charges. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 3/5/2023 6529843 reed anthony 3/5/2023 6391927 reyes ignacio 3/5/2023 6553956 rodriguez jonatan 3/5/2023 6547498 salinas ricardo . Trimboli & Prusinowski, LLC, attorneys for respondent City of Trenton . 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. . It isn't entirely clear what is happening in the third video, which was shot from a distance. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 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. Police Department Kanifah M. Wood, Trenton Police Department Eric W. Woodrow, West Windsor Police Department. All the charges against Felton were later dropped. Accountability starts from the top.. Div. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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(Image via YouTube) TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by. 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. Washington also got decked in the face by a Villanueva haymaker after he appeared to surrender to cops from behind a chain-link fence after a long chase. My eyes burned for like two, three days.. Both men are charged with aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. Our journalism needs your support. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. 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. 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. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the community's confidence.. As I reached for the phone, Singletary smacked my hand out of the way.. 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. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. We will have problems if you do.. Bongiovanni ordered the government to turn over to the defense the names of any witnesses and victims so there wasnt any confusion. The false records counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 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. 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. Search the most comprehensive statewide database of police use of force in the U.S. On Tuesday, Villanueva was arrested by the FBI at his home. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction while Inman is charged with one count of obstruction in connection to the incident. Its inbred in the academy. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the community's confidence.. The violation of civil rights counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. 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.. On November 28, 2017, Villanueva was on duty at the Trenton Police Department Detention Center. An official website of the United States government. Villanueva filed a written report later that night setting forth his account of what happened next. Inman, sporting the shaved-head look, was still attired in his Trenton Police garb of a black polo shirt and cargo pants. Villanueva stated he intended to charge Q.S. The federal case against them was initially scheduled for trial in 2020, but has been repeatedly postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Yo, why would you do that, he recalled saying. Ballarotto said his client is being unfairly vilified as a rogue cop, and he believes the ex-TPDer will get cleared. Singletary has said he was visited by fed who wanted to know more about the altercation with Villanueva. Suicide Note Revealed After Shocking Death, Indicted! Villanueva was fired in June 2018 and was in the process of fighting to get his job back. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the communitys confidence.. Thats not what this was.. The video shows a fence separated Washington from most of the officers, who had their guns trained on him. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. By The Newnan Times-Herald. 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. Mayor Reed Gusciora said he was made aware of the arrests but declined to comment beyond that. Marielle Franco, Radical Black Female Politician, Executed In Brazil, Megachurch Pastor Says Believing Jesus Is The Only Way To Heaven Is Insanity, 'Dilbert' Comic Creator Calls Black People A 'Hate Group,' Urges Segregation So Whites Can 'Escape', Bernie Mac Show Star Camille Winbush Is Not Ashamed Of Joining OnlyFans, Kyle Rittenhouse Faces 2nd Civil Lawsuit, Continues To Beg For Money From His Supporters, Ben Stein's 'Aunt Jemima' Rant Is A Master Class On White Privilege, Why Did tWitch Kill Himself? A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Stephen Varn, who is serving as acting police director while Lt. Chris Doyle is on vacation, confirmed Inmans arrest at TPD headquarters. You dont want to come back here. Camden:856-757-5026 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. 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. And then you have the old regime supervising these people. 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. Newark, NJ 07102, Newark:973-645-2700 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. Inman was arrested at the Trenton Police Station Tuesday morning and is now suspended. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. The appropriate departmental administrative actions will be taken, he said. 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.. 10, 2022 - 4:46 PM. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. Citations Copy Citation. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. 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. 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 . The lawsuit, brought by attorneys Robin Lord and Clifford Bidlingmaier, was filed in state court March 29, more than a year after Singletarys encounter with the troubled ex-cop. 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. Anthony Villanueva and Drew Inman are charged with assault in the 2017 arrest of Chanzie Washington. The video appeared to show Singletary slapping Villanuevas hand away from the phone. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. Villanueva and Inman were each ordered released on $50,000 unsecured bonds with conditions. Villanueva, who was standing on the same side of the chain-link fence, suddenly appeared out of nowhere, the feds alleged. 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 has several other issues pending from his four years on the Trenton police force, which all occurred in 2017. "It's perfectly proper the way he handled himself," Villanueva's attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, 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. Trenton, GA Cureton , Phillip Lebron 2/15/1977 9846 W Ridge Trail Rd - Soddy Daisy, TN Curington , Jessica Lee 9/28/1979 Swung his arm around his neck and brought him to the ground, he said. 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. 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. Surrounded by police officers, Washington complied when told to raise his hands, according to authorities. 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. FAX:973-645-2702 California residents do not sell my data request. 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. 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. Sounds likeVillanueva was under the misconception that police solidarity may is the same if you are a person of color. Those cops beat the living sh** out of Rodney King, and those cops overstepped their bounds. 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. A lock ( Court: SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION. 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. The indictment was unsealed on Tuesday, and they were both scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. 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. 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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. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. 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. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. The violation of civil rights counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. I know its a small community, the judge told the defendants. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction. All rights reserved, Philly POPS Musicians Disappointed' by Recent Moves, Trump Supporters Get Parole in Philadelphia Weapons Case, Check Your Change! Trenton:609-989-2190 More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. Villanuevas charges also related to his macing of a suspect in police lockup in 2017, according to the six-count indictment. On April 9, 2017 in Trenton, New Jersey, Chanzie Washington allegedly led cops on a car chase and then ran on foot. 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. 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. Each man did not speak other than to acknowledge the judge when she advised them of their right to remain silent. Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. Anthony Villanueva, Trenton Police Department Adam L. Wills, Pemberton Twp. 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. TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by federal agents and charged with assault and obstruction of justice, authorities announced on Tuesday. The counts against both officers stem from a traffic stop on April 9, 2017, in Trenton. EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Valley Forge Military Academy Cadet Speaks To CBS3 About Alleged Verbal, Physical Abuse At Hands Of Students. A locked padlock It burns. In the second incident, Villanueva is charged with depriving a man of his civil rights and obstruction of justice. 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 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. Villanueva went back to headquarters to help process Washington. The lawsuit faults Parrey, who is no longer police director, for not flagging Villanuevas pattern of unreasonable force.. The incident was caught on body camera. Felton said in suit that he was beaten so badly during his arrest he suffered bleeding on the brain and other injuries. 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.