Its inbred in internal affairs. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. 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. On April 9, 2017 in Trenton, New Jersey, Chanzie Washington allegedly led cops on a car chase and then ran on foot. 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. 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. 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. 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. Date published: Jan 28, 2021. Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. Washington jumped into the canal and swam to the opposite bank, climbing up a steep, brush-lined embankment near a parking lot. Trenton police officers chased him down. The Trentonian reported on those dustups, both of which were caught on tape. Sitting next to their attorneys, they remained quiet as U.S. assistant attorney Joseph Gribko briefly recapped the case against them. Villanueva was fired by Trenton police last summer for an alleged pattern of excessive force. Authorities say the driver involved in the stop fled in his vehicle and then on foot as officers pursued. On appeal from the New Jersey Civil Service . Villanuevas charges also related to his macing of a suspect in police lockup in 2017, according to the six-count indictment. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Capt. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Scott Krasny, Inmans attorney, declined to comment. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Villanueva grabbed a bottle of mace from the detention area. 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. Villanueva, who has since left the police department, is also charged with assaulting a prisoner in a separate incident. 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. Villanueva was fired by the police department, and is the subject of three excessive force lawsuits, according to The Trentonian. The indictment recounts the chase from start to finish, as Washington ended up at the banks of the Delaware and Raritan Canal. All the gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are all gonna be happy tonight that Anthonys no longer a police officer, Ballarotto said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Without issuing any warning or command, defendant Villanueva moved swiftly towards victim 1 and punched victim 1 in the face, the indictment states. 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. He was also seen walking coming down the hall shaking the pepper spray as he approached Singletarys cell. The charges and accusations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and Inman and Villanueva are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. A police aide rushed to try to help subdue Singletary, who allegedly elbowed Villanueva during the altercation. A locked padlock They both face more than 30 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Villanueva and Inman were among this group. On November 28, 2017, Villanueva was on duty at the Trenton Police Department Detention Center. A number of officers went around to the other side of the fence, including one officer equipped with a body camera. Two Trenton officers involved in arresting Washington after a foot chase in April of 2017 are now facing federal charges. My eyes burned for like two, three days.. Inman, sporting the shaved-head look, was still attired in his Trenton Police garb of a black polo shirt and cargo pants. So far no charges have been brought against Villanueva, who was cut loose by TPD last year. 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. Inman is not charged in the Singletary incident. Im hopeful there will be more to come.. 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. On April 9, 2017, Chanzie Washington, of Trenton, fled a routine traffic stop on foot, according to authorities. There are 400+ professionals named "Anthony Villanueva", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. 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. (Image via YouTube) TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by. Man In Easter Bunny Suit Involved In Florida Brawl Wanted In New Jersey For Car Burglaries. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. 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. Anthony Villanueva, Trenton Police Department Adam L. Wills, Pemberton Twp. A lock ( All say they were beaten up by Villanueva. Villanueva was fired last summer after repeated instances of excessive force, and three of his accuser have since filed suit against him and the department. (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED). However, the lawsuit painted Singletary as a blameless victim. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction, in connection with that incident. Villanueva, who was standing on the same side of the chain-link fence, suddenly appeared out of nowhere, the feds alleged. 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. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. The false records counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Thats what the video shows. The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med. Personally, its devastating to him, Hes got a family. DOCKET NO. 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. Mar. 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 was assigned to TPD lockup after. It isn't entirely clear what is happening in the third video, which was shot from a distance. 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. 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. 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. 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 Sign up for NewsOne's email newsletter! 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. Former officer Anthony Villanueva and current officer Drew Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday afternoon. Singletary, who is no stranger to cops having been arrested multiple times, told The Trentonian in a previous interview he remembered asking Villanueva why he ended his call. provided by mercer county prosecutors office, Chanzie Washington's mugshot after being arrested April 9, 2017. He didnt have a baton. 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. 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 later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements designed to conceal his unlawful conduct and improper treatment of the prisoner. Trenton Police department was aware of the the investigation and cooperated fully with federal authorities. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983
They are charged with violating Washington's civil rights and falsifying police reports to characterize him as the aggressor. You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. 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 training and New Jersey Attorney Generals guidelines on the use of force each time. provided by mercer county prosecutors office, Chanzie Washington's mugshot after being arrested April 9, 2017. Villanueva filed a written report later that night setting forth his account of what happened next. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Villanueva came up from Washingtons side and punched him in the face while Inman tackled him to the ground. Another officer ordered Washington to climb over the fence toward him. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Washington and Salaam Felton, now of St. Charles, Missouri, also claimed in separate lawsuits they were beaten to a pulp by Villanueva. NBC10 obtained body cam footage of the incident. Dougherty believes the city made a pile of mistakes investigating Villanueva, including not interviewing his client or his supervising sergeant. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the community's confidence.. Villanueva went back to headquarters to help process Washington. All the charges against Felton were later dropped. Villanueva and Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Pa. Woman Went Missing in 1992 and Declared Dead. "It's perfectly proper the way he handled himself," Villanueva's attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, said. Villanueva was fired last year and faces a separate federal charge for allegedly pepper spraying a man in a police holding 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. . 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. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the community's confidence.. Villanueva argued in his appeal, among other arguments, that the OAL erred by finding that he violated state policy on using pepper spray, and Trenton police failed to conduct an adequate investigation before terminating his employment. Lord was pleased somebody from law enforcement was paying attention and holding these officers accountable for their criminal conduct. Quaree Singletary uses a bed mattress to shield himself from mace during a struggle in TPD lockup. Villanueva wore all black, his lean frame topped by a mop of curly jet black hair. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe.