Each man did not speak other than to acknowledge the judge when she advised them of their right to remain silent. 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. 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. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. This is not a Rodney King situation, he said. The federal case against them was initially scheduled for trial in 2020, but has been repeatedly postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 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. They are charged with violating Washington's civil rights and falsifying police reports to characterize him as the aggressor. Villanueva also faces charges in connection to another incident in which he allegedly pepper sprayed a defendant in a holding cell. Police Department Kanifah M. Wood, Trenton Police Department Eric W. Woodrow, West Windsor Police Department. Thats his gun, his physical strength and his courage.. 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. Anthony Villanueva, then 25, after leaving U.S. District Court in Trenton in an April 2019 file photo.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med. A number of officers went around to the other side of the fence, including one officer equipped with a body camera. Inman is still on restricted duty and Kieffer III is on the streets. Villanuevas attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, insists his client didnt punch the man however. On Tuesday, Villanueva was arrested by the FBI at his home. TPD Officer Drew Inman, center, was caught on tape punching a suspect in the face while other cops placed him in cuffs. 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]. 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. Trenton Police department was aware of the the investigation and cooperated fully with federal authorities. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. And then you have the old regime supervising these people. Accountability starts from the top.. A-4302-18T3 (App. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. Jan. 28, 2021) From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research. 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. Anthony Villanueva, Trenton Police Department Adam L. Wills, Pemberton Twp. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. 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? Villanueva, who was eventually fired by the city department and is fighting to get his job back, had been pulled off the streets and re-assigned to lockup following a separate altercation months before with Chanzie Washington. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The arrest of Inman happened a day after the city introduced new police director Sheilah Coley. That decision was then adopted by the states Civil Service Commission. 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. He was fired in June 2018. 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. Sitting next to their attorneys, they remained quiet as U.S. assistant attorney Joseph Gribko briefly recapped the case against them. 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. 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. 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. 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. He didnt have a flashlight. Personally, its devastating to him, Hes got a family. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Villanueva and Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday. Trenton police officers chased him down. Citations Copy Citation. 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. 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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Thats not what this was.. Villanueva, who has since left the police department, is also charged with assaulting a prisoner in a separate incident. 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. In the second incident, Villanueva is charged with depriving a man of his civil rights and obstruction of justice. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. NBC10 obtained body cam footage of the incident. 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. Mark Kieffer Jr., was not charged in the indictment and not mentioned by name. On April 9, 2017 in Trenton, New Jersey, Chanzie Washington allegedly led cops on a car chase and then ran on foot. 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. The sound picks up after Washington is already on the ground in the first two videos. The incident was recorded on other officers body cams. The man who the officers arrested is no longer in jail and his eluding and obstruction charges were later dropped. We will have problems if you do.. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. I dont want you back here because of a mistake. Hearing Impaired: 973-645-6227 Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. Its inbred in them. 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. He is also charged with additional civil rights and obstruction counts in connection to a separate incident in November 2017. Dougherty believes the city made a pile of mistakes investigating Villanueva, including not interviewing his client or his supervising sergeant. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med. 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. Enter the name of a police department or an officer: Press to expand search. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). They cannot travel outside of the U.S., must surrender passports and firearms and avoid contact with victims and witnesses in the case, and with each other, when theyre outside the presence of their attorneys. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. As I reached for the phone, Singletary smacked my hand out of the way.. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. Its inbred in internal affairs. ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. Police work is difficult and dangerous, but officers need to respect the civil rights of the people they are policing, Carpenito said. Her first official day isnt till May 1. Its a whole family of public servants in the city of Trenton, he said. I believe that if my client gets a fair hearing he wont be charged.. On November 28, 2017, Villanueva was on duty at the Trenton Police Department Detention Center. The false records counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Inman is not charged in the Singletary incident. 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The Trentonian reported on those dustups, both of which were caught on tape. Man In Easter Bunny Suit Involved In Florida Brawl Wanted In New Jersey For Car Burglaries. Div. 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. An official website of the United States government. Villanueva came up from Washingtons side and punched him in the face while Inman tackled him to the ground. Scott Krasny, Inmans attorney, declined to comment. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. You can explore additional available newsletters here. Stephen Varn, who is serving as acting police director while Lt. Chris Doyle is on vacation, confirmed Inmans arrest at TPD headquarters. 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. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction, in connection with that incident. provided by mercer county prosecutors office, Chanzie Washington's mugshot after being arrested April 9, 2017. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. The indictment also recounted Villanuevas Nov. 28, 2017 encounter with Quaree Singletary inside TPD headquarters. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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.. Former officer Anthony Villanueva and current officer Drew Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday afternoon. Villanueva and Inman, their hands shackled in front of them, appeared Tuesday afternoon before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni. Chanzie Washington was pummeled by cops during an arrest in April 2017. 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. Theres no evidence that he was punched at that side of his face.. All the charges against Felton were later dropped. The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was indicted by federal government for the 2017 incident on accusations he deprived the man of his civil rights. Officer Anthony Villanueva sprays Quaree Singletary with mace during a lengthy struggle in TPD lockup. The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was. Our journalism needs your support. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. You dont want to come back here. Washington and Salaam Felton, now of St. Charles, Missouri, also claimed in separate lawsuits they were beaten to a pulp by Villanueva. Ballarotto plans to hire a police expert to testify that the officer's physicality was within the law. Lock 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. Body camera footage showed Villanueva tracking down, tackling and punching Felton in the head twice from behind following a foot chase in March 2017. Mar. The man tells the officers, Stop hitting me in my face.". 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. Main Office: 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. Singletary has said he was visited by fed who wanted to know more about the altercation with Villanueva. The counts against both officers stem from a traffic stop on April 9, 2017, in Trenton. 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. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. That case is pending in federal court. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. On Nov. 28, 2017, Villanueva pepper sprayed a prisoner who was confined to a holding cell at Trenton Police Headquarters, according to authorities. (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED). Trenton attorney Robin Lord represents Washington, Singletary and a third man, Saalam Felton, in separate lawsuits. Villanueva arrested Felton in March 2017 following a foot pursuit following a reported shooting. Inman, who was creeping from behind, tackled Washington to the ground as both officers repeatedly punched him while he screamed out in pain, Stop hitting me in the face, and youve got my hands, according to the indictment. Sounds likeVillanueva was under the misconception that police solidarity may is the same if you are a person of color. Anthony Villanueva and Drew Inman are charged with assault in the 2017 arrest of Chanzie Washington. 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. In the Trenton case, city cops Villanueva and Inman were hit in a six-count indictment that charged civilrights deprivation and falsifying police records. You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. 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. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the community's confidence.. With your experience, Im sure youre familiar with your Fifth Amendment rights, Bongiovanni said during the 10-minute court appearance. The two appeared to exchange words in the soundless video moments before tempers flared. That came one day after they made their initial court appearances and were each released on $50,000 bail. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The charges against both men stem from an April 2017 traffic stop in Trenton. The indictment was unsealed on Tuesday, and they were both scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. Bongiovanni ordered the government to turn over to the defense the names of any witnesses and victims so there wasnt any confusion. Camden:856-757-5026 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.