April 23, 2019 / 6:49 PM 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. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. TPD Officer Drew Inman, center, was caught on tape punching a suspect in the face while other cops placed him in cuffs. The FBI was investigating Inman, former TPD officer Anthony Villanueva, and Mark Kieffer III in connection with the April 2017 arrest of Chanzie Washington. Like our content? Villanuevas lawyer said the only people who should be happy about the charges are gang members, gun carriers, and drug sellers. Washington and Salaam Felton, now of St. Charles, Missouri, also claimed in separate lawsuits they were beaten to a pulp by Villanueva. 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. Inman and Villanueva returned to the police station to prepare reports in connection with the victims arrest. 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.. 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 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. Its inbred all over. 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. "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. Trenton officer, ex-colleague plead not guilty to civil rights charges provided by mercer county prosecutors office, Chanzie Washington's mugshot after being arrested April 9, 2017. 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. 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. A number of officers went around to the other side of the fence, including one officer equipped with a body camera. Third excessive force suit brought against ex-Trenton cop Anthony The indictment recounts the chase from start to finish, as Washington ended up at the banks of the Delaware and Raritan Canal. He allegedly later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements to conceal his conduct. Jan. 28, 2021) From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research. Lord was pleased somebody from law enforcement was paying attention and holding these officers accountable for their criminal conduct. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Anthony Villanueva and Drew Inman are charged with assault in the 2017 arrest of Chanzie Washington. Trenton, GA Cureton , Phillip Lebron 2/15/1977 9846 W Ridge Trail Rd - Soddy Daisy, TN Curington , Jessica Lee 9/28/1979 Trimboli & Prusinowski, LLC, attorneys for respondent City of Trenton . Villanuevas attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, insists his client didnt punch the man however. Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. Villanueva was assigned to TPD lockup after. Div. But there was no long struggle, the OAL judge found. Inman is not charged in the Singletary incident. Ballarotto said his client is being unfairly vilified as a rogue cop, and he believes the ex-TPDer will get cleared. The man was eventually surrounded by the officers and complied when he was ordered to put his hands in the air, officials said. Trenton officer, ex-colleague facing civil rights charges - Inquirer.com Villanueva filed a written report later that night setting forth his account of what happened next. Almost immediately thereafter, defendant Villanueva strode quickly down the corridor after victim 2, towards Cell 7, carrying a can of Oleoresin Capsicum, also known as OC spray or pepper spray., It goes on to say Villanueva reached through the bars and sprayed OC spray into Cell 7, while victim 2 attempted to shield himself with a mattress.. The false records counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Villanueva also faces charges in connection to another incident in which he allegedly pepper sprayed a defendant in a holding cell. Its inbred in internal affairs. _____ Submitted January 12, 2021 - Decided Before Judges Haas, Mawla, and Natali. Villanuevas charges also related to his macing of a suspect in police lockup in 2017, according to the six-count indictment. However, the lawsuit painted Singletary as a blameless victim. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. 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. FBI arrests Trenton police officer at TPD, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), FBI arrests Trenton police officer at TPD headquarters in excessive force investigation, Fox News scandal, cable news, and how gullible we all are (JEFF EDELTSTEIN COLUMN), Tales of El Moreno in Puriscal Costa Rica (L.A. 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That came one day after they made their initial court appearances and were each released on $50,000 bail. 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. The two appeared to exchange words in the soundless video moments before tempers flared. District of New Jersey Footage from the incident that was obtained by The Trentonian via public records request can be seen below. 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. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the community's confidence.. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction. A lock ( 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. It aint no joke. Ballarotto plans to hire a police expert to testify that the officer's physicality was within the law. 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. Both men are charged with aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. 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. Authorities said Villanueva punched the driver in the face and Inman tackled him. 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. In re Villanueva, DOCKET NO. A-4302-18T3 | Casetext Search + Citator Singletary was charged with assaulting Villanueva. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. Troubled cops sully Trenton Police Department's reputation Former Trenton police officer Anthony Villanueva, left, when he graduated from the police academy in a 2015 file photo, and Trenton police officer Drew Inman, right, at his graduation. 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. Get free summaries of new New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division - Unpublished Opinions opinions delivered to your inbox! 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. Inman was arrested at the Trenton Police Station Tuesday morning and is now suspended. Full title: IN THE MATTER OF ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. An arrest constitutes only the initiation of charges, and those arrested are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law. 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. Police Department Kanifah M. Wood, Trenton Police Department Eric W. Woodrow, West Windsor Police Department. 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 video includes body cameras from three officers, but not from Villanueva or Inman. The whole scuffle was caught on surveillance cameras and the footage was released to The Trentonian. Accountability starts from the top.. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- Two Trenton police officers are now in trouble with the law. Trenton police officers chased him down. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. 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. 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. IN THE MATTER OF VILLANUEVA - leagle.com 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, NJ. 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. This is not a Rodney King situation, he said. Quaree Singletary uses a bed mattress to shield himself from mace during a struggle in TPD lockup. Inman is still on restricted duty and Kieffer III is on the streets. All rights reserved, Philly POPS Musicians Disappointed' by Recent Moves, Trump Supporters Get Parole in Philadelphia Weapons Case, Check Your Change! The charges against both men stem from an April 2017 traffic stop in Trenton. He was fired in June 2018. Our journalism needs your support. Thats not what this was.. 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. Trenton:609-989-2190 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. It was not immediately clear if that charge was dropped. PDF Inmate Release Report DOCKET NO. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. Im hopeful there will be more to come.. Personally, its devastating to him, Hes got a family. In re Villanueva. Mar. FAX: 856-968-4917 The charges and accusations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and Inman and Villanueva are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. On April 9, 2017, Chanzie Washington, of Trenton, fled a routine traffic stop on foot, according to authorities. They punched him numerous times while Washington cried out, stop hitting me, and youve got my hands.. Those cops beat the living sh** out of Rodney King, and those cops overstepped their bounds. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. You're all set! 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. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. On April 9, 2017 in Trenton, New Jersey, Chanzie Washington allegedly led cops on a car chase and then ran on foot. The arresting departments are noted: Coweta County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), Chattahoochee Hills Police Department (CHPD . The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. The sound picks up after Washington is already on the ground in the first two videos. 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. Villanueva was fired by Trenton police last summer for an alleged pattern of excessive force. Anthony Villanueva, Trenton Police Department Adam L. Wills, Pemberton Twp. Anthony Villanueva, then 25, after leaving U.S. District Court in Trenton in an April 2019 file photo.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. FAX: 609-989-2275. The incident was recorded on other officers body cams. While the man complied with further police demands, Villanueva punched him in the face and Inman tackled him to the ground, according to investigators. 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. Without issuing any warning or command, defendant Villanueva moved swiftly towards victim 1 and punched victim 1 in the face, the indictment states. Will anti-police sentiment change outcomes for Nucera - PressReader ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. Body Cam Footage Shows Trenton Officers Accused of Assaulting Man 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. The indictment was unsealed on Tuesday, and they were both scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Villanueva faces additional charges for allegedly assaulting a prisoner who was in a holding cell. While Washington was complying, Villanueva punched him in the face. WATCH: Video shows altercation in Trenton Police lockup that got On November 28, 2017, Villanueva was on duty at the Trenton Police Department Detention Center. 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. Washington complied, according to the indictment, and placed his hands on the fence. The attorney argued that Trenton Police leave their officers unequipped far too often. On Tuesday, Villanueva was arrested by the FBI at his home. It burns. 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. You can explore additional available newsletters here. TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by federal agents and charged with assault and obstruction of justice, authorities announced on Tuesday. 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. Citations Copy Citation. Villanueva and Inman were among this group. Body camera footage showed Villanueva tracking down, tackling and punching Felton in the head twice from behind following a foot chase in March 2017. 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. Each man did not speak other than to acknowledge the judge when she advised them of their right to remain silent. 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. A police aide rushed to try to help subdue Singletary, who allegedly elbowed Villanueva during the altercation. Bongiovanni ordered the government to turn over to the defense the names of any witnesses and victims so there wasnt any confusion. Villanueva and Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday. 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.