My eyes burned for like two, three days.. Washington and Salaam Felton, now of St. Charles, Missouri, also claimed in separate lawsuits they were beaten to a pulp by Villanueva. They are charged with violating Washington's civil rights and falsifying police reports to characterize him as the aggressor. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. An official website of the United States government. 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. 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. Villanueva and Inman were each ordered released on $50,000 unsecured bonds with conditions. Suicide Note Revealed After Shocking Death, Indicted! Thats what the video shows. The lawsuit faults Parrey, who is no longer police director, for not flagging Villanuevas pattern of unreasonable force.. In the Matter of Anthony Villanueva City of Trenton Police Department 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. Villanueva filed a written report later that night setting forth his account of what happened next. The federal case against them was initially scheduled for trial in 2020, but has been repeatedly postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Image via YouTube) TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by. Its inbred all over. 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. The charges against both men stem from an April 2017 traffic stop in Trenton. Singletary and his attorneys may be banking on power in numbers. I know its a small community, the judge told the defendants. 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. Jan. 28, 2021) From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research. Trenton officer, ex-colleague facing civil rights charges - Inquirer.com That decision was then adopted by the states Civil Service Commission. 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. 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. Have a question about Government Services? Anthony Villanueva leaves the federal courthouse in Trenton in this April 2019 file photo. 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. It was not immediately clear if that charge was dropped. While Washington was complying, Villanueva punched him in the face. 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. A number of officers went around to the other side of the fence, including one officer equipped with a body camera. 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. Two Trenton officers involved in arresting Washington after a foot chase in April of 2017 are now facing federal charges. 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). California residents do not sell my data request. All rights reserved (About Us). TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- Two Trenton police officers are now in trouble with the law. Villanueva was fired in June 2018 and was in the process of fighting to get his job back. "It's perfectly proper the way he handled himself," Villanueva's attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, said. I believe that if my client gets a fair hearing he wont be charged.. So far no charges have been brought against Villanueva, who was cut loose by TPD last year. According to Trentonian , 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. With your experience, Im sure youre familiar with your Fifth Amendment rights, Bongiovanni said during the 10-minute court appearance. Lord was pleased somebody from law enforcement was paying attention and holding these officers accountable for their criminal conduct. But there was no long struggle, the OAL judge found. We will have problems if you do.. Villanueva also faces three civil lawsuits from Washington, Singletary, and Salaam Felton. A-4302-18T3 (App. Trenton:609-989-2190 On April 9, 2017, Chanzie Washington, of Trenton, fled a routine traffic stop on foot, according to authorities. White And Hispanic Cop Brutalize Black Man - NewsOne 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. There are 400+ professionals named "Anthony Villanueva", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. He plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court. provided by mercer county prosecutors office, Chanzie Washington's mugshot after being arrested April 9, 2017. Trenton officer, ex-colleague plead not guilty in civil rights case 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. Who is Anthony McRae, the suspected Michigan State mass shooter? - ABC News 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. Trenton, NJ. All rights reserved, Philly POPS Musicians Disappointed' by Recent Moves, Trump Supporters Get Parole in Philadelphia Weapons Case, Check Your Change! Capt. Passaic Clinton, Hunterdon Trenton, Mercer Tuckerton, Ocean Union Beach, Monmouth Union City, Hudson Union Township, . They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. First published on April 23, 2019 / 6:49 PM. The Newnan Times-Herald. Trimboli & Prusinowski, LLC, attorneys for respondent City of Trenton . Villanuevas lawyer said the only people who should be happy about the charges are gang members, gun carriers, and drug sellers. Thats his gun, his physical strength and his courage.. Yo, why would you do that, he recalled saying. In re Villanueva, DOCKET NO. A-4302-18T3 | Casetext Search + Citator 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. 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. Inmans lawyer has declined to comment. 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. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. 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 violation of civil rights counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Inman has been with the department a little more than two years and makes more than $57,000 in annual salary. All rights reserved (About Us). The incident was recorded on other officers body cams. 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. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 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. 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. They punched him numerous times while Washington cried out, stop hitting me, and youve got my hands.. The appeals court fully backed the OAL judge, Jeff Masin, in his findings that Villanueva was properly terminated. Villanueva, who graduated from the police academy in 2015, was caught on tape pummeling Washington as he stood with his hands up near a chain-link fence as Inman and Kieffer joined in the clash. Villanueva and Inman, their hands shackled in front of them, appeared Tuesday afternoon before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni. Ballarotto said his client cooperated with the feds and testified at an administrative law hearing. Newark, NJ 07102, Newark:973-645-2700 Personally, its devastating to him, Hes got a family. Indictment alleges police assaulted suspects in Trenton; two - WHYY 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. Video of the incident showed Singletary strolling unaccompanied down the hall leading to the jail cells and entering the cell. Villanueva and Inman were among this group. HCSO-Criminal Investigative Division-Open Warrant Info FUll List 2 Trenton Police Officers Facing Federal Charges After - CBS News 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. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. The incident was caught on body camera. Body camera footage showed Villanueva tracking down, tackling and punching Felton in the head twice from behind following a foot chase in March 2017. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Full title: IN THE MATTER OF ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. In re Villanueva. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Inman is still on restricted duty and Kieffer III is on the streets. Fired cop facing federal excessive force charges speaks out. 'I - nj I never want to be maced again in my life, Singletary previously told this newspaper. Inman, sporting the shaved-head look, was still attired in his Trenton Police garb of a black polo shirt and cargo pants.