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. April 23, 2019 / 6:49 PM Inman and Villanueva were two of the officers caught on tape appearing to throw blows after Washington surrendered following a wild foot chase through the city. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. Inman and Villanueva returned to the police station to prepare reports in connection with the victims arrest. He didnt have a flashlight. While the man complied with further police demands, Villanueva punched him in the face and Inman tackled him to the ground, according to investigators. The arrest of Inman happened a day after the city introduced new police director Sheilah Coley. It aint no joke. Villanueva, 25, of Ewing, and Inman, 25, of Hamilton, are both charged with one count of aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. Footage from the incident that was obtained by The Trentonian via public records request can be seen below. 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. 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. They are charged with violating Washington's civil rights and falsifying police. That case is pending in federal court. 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. His father was a police officer. Singletary has said he was visited by fed who wanted to know more about the altercation with Villanueva. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Another officer ordered Washington to climb over the fence toward him. Washington and Salaam Felton, now of St. Charles, Missouri, also claimed in separate lawsuits they were beaten to a pulp by Villanueva. All rights reserved, Philly POPS Musicians Disappointed' by Recent Moves, Trump Supporters Get Parole in Philadelphia Weapons Case, Check Your Change! 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. He was fired in June 2018.
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. 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. Thats what the video shows. 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. Body camera footage showed Villanueva tracking down, tackling and punching Felton in the head twice from behind following a foot chase in March 2017. Villanuevas charges also related to his macing of a suspect in police lockup in 2017, according to the six-count indictment. 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. EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Valley Forge Military Academy Cadet Speaks To CBS3 About Alleged Verbal, Physical Abuse At Hands Of Students. You can explore additional available newsletters here. Inman is not charged in the Singletary incident. You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. In re Villanueva. Singletary and his attorneys may be banking on power in numbers.
Fired cop facing federal excessive force charges speaks out. 'I - nj (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED). 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, 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. An official website of the United States government. Former officer Anthony Villanueva and current officer Drew Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday afternoon. Villanueva filed a written report later that night setting forth his account of what happened next. 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. 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. Newark, NJ 07102, Newark:973-645-2700
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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
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. Both defendants are charged with one count aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. Stephen Varn, who is serving as acting police director while Lt. Chris Doyle is on vacation, confirmed Inmans arrest at TPD headquarters. 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. 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.
PDF Inmate Release Report He plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court. 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. With your experience, Im sure youre familiar with your Fifth Amendment rights, Bongiovanni said during the 10-minute court appearance. . The charges against both men stem from an April 2017 traffic stop in Trenton. Im hopeful there will be more to come.. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the community's confidence.. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Anthony Villanueva, then 25, after leaving U.S. District Court in Trenton in an April 2019 file photo.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med. The whole scuffle was caught on surveillance cameras and the footage was released to The Trentonian. Former officer Anthony Villanueva and current officer Drew Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday afternoon. 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.
Those cops beat the living sh** out of Rodney King, and those cops overstepped their bounds. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the community's confidence.. 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. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. Each man did not speak other than to acknowledge the judge when she advised them of their right to remain silent. 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). The appeals court fully backed the OAL judge, Jeff Masin, in his findings that Villanueva was properly terminated. 970 Broad Street, 7th Floor
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to todays indictment. Have a question about Government Services? Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and former Trenton Police Officer Anthony Villanueva were charged in a six-count indictment two years after an incident in which they knocked a Trenton man to the ground during an arrest, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information.
By The Newnan Times-Herald.
be arrested and re-processed.
400+ "Anthony Villanueva" profiles | LinkedIn Villanueva was fired last year and faces a separate federal charge for allegedly pepper spraying a man in a police holding cell. The gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are probably throwing a party tonight since he was taken off the street. The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was indicted by federal government for the 2017 incident on accusations he deprived the man of his civil rights. Official websites use .gov 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.. Its a whole family of public servants in the city of Trenton, he said. 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.