And then you have the old regime supervising these people. 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. 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. 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 indictment recounts the chase from start to finish, as Washington ended up at the banks of the Delaware and Raritan Canal. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Mayor Reed Gusciora said he was made aware of the arrests but declined to comment beyond that. "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. (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED). You can explore additional available newsletters here. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. Authorities said Villanueva punched the driver in the face and Inman tackled him. 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. On April 9, 2017 in Trenton, New Jersey, Chanzie Washington allegedly led cops on a car chase and then ran on foot. Villanueva was fired last year and faces a separate federal charge for allegedly pepper spraying a man in a police holding cell. He only had three things. Body camera footage showed Villanueva tracking down, tackling and punching Felton in the head twice from behind following a foot chase in March 2017. The indictment also recounted Villanuevas Nov. 28, 2017 encounter with Quaree Singletary inside TPD headquarters. The Newnan Times-Herald. Police work is difficult and dangerous, but officers need to respect the civil rights of the people they are policing, U.S. Attorney Carpenito said. Villanueva later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements designed to conceal his unlawful conduct and improper treatment of the prisoner. FAX: 856-968-4917 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. Without issuing any warning or command, defendant Villanueva moved swiftly towards victim 1 and punched victim 1 in the face, the indictment states. 3/5/2023 6529843 reed anthony 3/5/2023 6391927 reyes ignacio 3/5/2023 6553956 rodriguez jonatan 3/5/2023 6547498 salinas ricardo . Katz & Dougherty, LLC, attorneys for appellant Anthony Villanueva (George T. Dougherty , on the briefs). Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction, in connection with that incident. Officer Anthony Villanueva sprays Quaree Singletary with mace during a lengthy struggle in TPD lockup. A number of officers went around to the other side of the fence, including one officer equipped with a body camera. 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. Official websites use .gov Full title: IN THE MATTER OF ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was indicted by federal government for the 2017 incident on accusations he deprived the man of his civil rights. On Tuesday, Villanueva was arrested by the FBI at his home. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Villanueva also faces charges in connection to another incident in which he allegedly pepper sprayed a defendant in a holding cell. Body cam footage obtained by NBC10 shows the man on the ground and crying out in pain while officers are on top of him. Those cops beat the living sh** out of Rodney King, and those cops overstepped their bounds. Bongiovanni ordered the government to turn over to the defense the names of any witnesses and victims so there wasnt any confusion. 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 appeals court fully backed the OAL judge, Jeff Masin, in his findings that Villanueva was properly terminated. He was also seen walking coming down the hall shaking the pepper spray as he approached Singletarys cell. They also took Officer Inman into custody at Trenton police headquarters. They are charged with violating Washington's civil rights and falsifying police. Its a whole family of public servants in the city of Trenton, he said. The Trentonian reported on those dustups, both of which were caught on tape. Thats his gun, his physical strength and his courage.. Surrounded by police officers, Washington complied when told to raise his hands, according to authorities. EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Valley Forge Military Academy Cadet Speaks To CBS3 About Alleged Verbal, Physical Abuse At Hands Of Students. Mark Kieffer Jr., was not charged in the indictment and not mentioned by name. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. They are accused of assaulting a man during a traffic stop in 2017. 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. 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. 970 Broad Street, 7th Floor 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. 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 indictment was unsealed on Tuesday, and they were both scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. Singletary has said he was visited by fed who wanted to know more about the altercation with Villanueva. TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- Two Trenton police officers are now in trouble with the law. "It's a question of respect. His father was a police officer. 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. The FBI was investigating Inman, former TPD officer Anthony Villanueva, and Mark Kieffer III in connection with the April 2017 arrest of Chanzie Washington. Citations Copy Citation. This is not a Rodney King situation, he said. 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. 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. Officers try to subdue Quaree Singletary during a lengthy struggle in police lockup. 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. 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. Villanueva came up from Washingtons side and punched him in the face while Inman tackled him to the ground. _____ Submitted January 12, 2021 - Decided Before Judges Haas, Mawla, and Natali. 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. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Quaree Singletary engaged in a struggle with city cop Anthony Villanueva after Villanueva abruptly ended Singletary's phone call to relatives. All Rights Reserved. You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. Trenton Police department was aware of the the investigation and cooperated fully with federal authorities. There are 400+ professionals named "Anthony Villanueva", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. 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. But there was no long struggle, the OAL judge found. 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. NBC10 obtained body cam footage of the incident.. Villanueva was fired by Trenton police last summer for an alleged pattern of excessive force. with assault on a police officer, which required that Q.S. Two Trenton officers involved in arresting Washington after a foot chase in April of 2017 are now facing federal charges. Villanueva and Inman were each ordered released on $50,000 unsecured bonds with conditions. Felton said in suit that he was beaten so badly during his arrest he suffered bleeding on the brain and other injuries. Another officer ordered Washington to climb over the fence toward him. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. Man In Easter Bunny Suit Involved In Florida Brawl Wanted In New Jersey For Car Burglaries. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. Inman and Kieffer III are white and Villanueva is Hispanic. It was not immediately clear if that charge was dropped. Police Department Kanifah M. Wood, Trenton Police Department Eric W. Woodrow, West Windsor Police Department. 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. 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. While the man complied with further police demands, Villanueva punched him in the face and Inman tackled him to the ground, according to investigators. Yo, why would you do that, he recalled saying. Villanuevas charges also related to his macing of a suspect in police lockup in 2017, according to the six-count indictment. Its inbred in the academy. A-4302-18T3 (App. Get free summaries of new New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division - Unpublished Opinions opinions delivered to your inbox! |. 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. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. Dougherty believes the city made a pile of mistakes investigating Villanueva, including not interviewing his client or his supervising sergeant. Inman is still on restricted duty and Kieffer III is on the streets. We will have problems if you do.. Villanueva stated he intended to charge Q.S. Villanueva filed a written report later that night setting forth his account of what happened next. He is also charged with additional civil rights and obstruction counts in connection to a separate incident in November 2017. Inman has been with the department a little more than two years and makes more than $57,000 in annual salary. Villanueva and Inman were among this group. Stephen Varn, who is serving as acting police director while Lt. Chris Doyle is on vacation, confirmed Inmans arrest at TPD headquarters. 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. Quaree Singletary, of Ewing, claims he was physically assaulted by Villanueva in lockup at Trenton Police headquarters on Nov. 28, 2017, and suffers from serious bodily injuries to his brain, head, face and body.. The 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. 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. He didnt have a flashlight. 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. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. 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.. Its inbred in internal affairs. Police work is difficult and dangerous, but officers need to respect the civil rights of the people they are policing, Carpenito said. As I reached for the phone, Singletary smacked my hand out of the way.. Aerotek Mark Anthony Villanueva 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 man who the officers arrested is no longer in jail and his eluding and obstruction charges were later dropped.