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. Mar. 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. Another officer ordered Washington to climb over the fence toward him. Inman, sporting the shaved-head look, was still attired in his Trenton Police garb of a black polo shirt and cargo pants. Main Office: It burns. The arrest of Inman happened a day after the city introduced new police director Sheilah Coley. All the gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are all gonna be happy tonight that Anthonys no longer a police officer, Ballarotto said. Footage from the incident that was obtained by The Trentonian via public records request can be seen below. 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. The incident was caught on body camera. Trenton:609-989-2190 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. Villanueva came up from Washingtons side and punched him in the face while Inman tackled him to the ground. 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. The video appeared to show Singletary slapping Villanuevas hand away from the phone. Villanueva and Inman, their hands shackled in front of them, appeared Tuesday afternoon before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni. A locked padlock Im hopeful there will be more to come.. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. A police aide rushed to try to help subdue Singletary, who allegedly elbowed Villanueva during the altercation. 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. Villanueva grabbed a bottle of mace from the detention area. They both face more than 30 years in prison if convicted on all counts. I believe that if my client gets a fair hearing he wont be charged.. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 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. 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. 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. He only had three things. Villanueva wore all black, his lean frame topped by a mop of curly jet black hair. 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. He plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. They are charged with violating Washington's civil rights and falsifying police reports to characterize him as the aggressor. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. "It's perfectly proper the way he handled himself," Villanueva's attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, said. She sounded indignant as she discussed her decades-long struggle to help clients who described being beaten up and abused by TPD officers. Trenton Police department was aware of the the investigation and cooperated fully with federal authorities. 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 also captured Villanueva bragging about the arrest later on a phone call. He didnt have a baton. 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. Villanueva was fired last year and faces a separate federal charge for allegedly pepper spraying a man in a police holding cell. Both Inman and Villanueva were granted unsecured bail on Tuesday, meaning they can go home. Villanueva later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements designed to conceal his unlawful conduct and improper treatment of the prisoner. Villanueva stated he intended to charge Q.S. Villanueva has several other issues pending from his four years on the Trenton police force, which all occurred in 2017. Washington complied, according to the indictment, and placed his hands on the fence. It was not immediately clear if that charge was dropped. Former officer Anthony Villanueva and current officer Drew Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday afternoon. The Trenton Police Department has punished a number of officers accused of conduct unbecoming a public servant since the turn of the century, culminating with the recent firing of patrol. Villanueva arrested Felton in March 2017 following a foot pursuit following a reported shooting. 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. 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. Ballarotto said his client cooperated with the feds and testified at an administrative law hearing. Anthony Villanueva, Trenton Police Department Adam L. Wills, Pemberton Twp. Both defendants are charged with one count aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction, in connection with that incident. The man was eventually surrounded by Trenton police officers and complied when he was ordered to put his hands in the air. 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. Anthony Villanueva leaves the federal courthouse in Trenton in this April 2019 file photo. Search the most comprehensive statewide database of police use of force in the U.S. Attorneys Molly Lorber, Joseph Gribko and Ray Mateo of the U.S. Attorney=s Office Criminal Division in Trenton in the criminal case. Citations Copy Citation. Felton said in suit that he was beaten so badly during his arrest he suffered bleeding on the brain and other injuries. 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Without issuing any warning or command, defendant Villanueva moved swiftly towards victim 1 and punched victim 1 in the face, the indictment states. Thats his gun, his physical strength and his courage.. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med. 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. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. 10, 2022 - 4:46 PM. Body camera footage showed Villanueva tracking down, tackling and punching Felton in the head twice from behind following a foot chase in March 2017. Passaic Clinton, Hunterdon Trenton, Mercer Tuckerton, Ocean Union Beach, Monmouth Union City, Hudson Union Township, . All rights reserved, Philly POPS Musicians Disappointed' by Recent Moves, Trump Supporters Get Parole in Philadelphia Weapons Case, Check Your Change! If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. Video of the incident showed Singletary strolling unaccompanied down the hall leading to the jail cells and entering the cell. TRENTON - City police officer Drew Inman was arrested Tuesday morning by the FBI as part of an investigation targeting former and current officers over allegations of use of excessive force.. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction. 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. 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. My eyes burned for like two, three days.. 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. 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. 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. His father was a police officer. As I reached for the phone, Singletary smacked my hand out of the way.. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. Full title: IN THE MATTER OF ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. Her first official day isnt till May 1. 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. As Singletary headed toward his cell and the door closed behind him, the cop sprayed him with the stinging mace, affecting nearby prisoners. 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. Villanueva is also charged with depriving a second man of his civil rights in a separate incident, and with obstruction related to that second incident. Anthony Villanueva, then 25, after leaving U.S. District Court in Trenton in an April 2019 file photo.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med. 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. Inman and Kieffer III are white and Villanueva is Hispanic. Trenton, GA Cureton , Phillip Lebron 2/15/1977 9846 W Ridge Trail Rd - Soddy Daisy, TN Curington , Jessica Lee 9/28/1979 Swung his arm around his neck and brought him to the ground, he said. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. To justify their actions against the victim, Inman and Villanueva prepared and submitted false and fraudulent reports, in which they attempted to portray the victim as the aggressor and an ongoing threat. The false records counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 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Villanuevas charges also related to his macing of a suspect in police lockup in 2017, according to the six-count indictment. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. He is fighting to get his job back. Villanueva filed 14 use-of-force reports in a two-year period, higher than the statewide average of 4.1 use-of-force reports per officer over a five-year period, according to NJ.coms reporting on statewide use-of-force records. Kieffer III, the son of Capt. 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. Villanueva, who was standing on the same side of the chain-link fence, suddenly appeared out of nowhere, the feds alleged. On November 28, 2017, Villanueva was on duty at the Trenton Police Department Detention Center. Quaree Singletary uses a bed mattress to shield himself from mace during a struggle in TPD lockup. 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. 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. NBC10 obtained body cam footage of the incident. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. You can explore additional available newsletters here. On Tuesday, Villanueva was arrested by the FBI at his home. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. District of New Jersey 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. Capt. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. The video includes body cameras from three officers, but not from Villanueva or Inman. In re Villanueva. Stephen Varn, who is serving as acting police director while Lt. Chris Doyle is on vacation, confirmed Inmans arrest at TPD headquarters. Thats what the video shows. 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. 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. Inman has been with the department a little more than two years and makes more than $57,000 in annual salary. Inman was arrested at the Trenton Police Station Tuesday morning and is now suspended. 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. 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"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. _____ Submitted January 12, 2021 - Decided Before Judges Haas, Mawla, and Natali. Trimboli & Prusinowski, LLC, attorneys for respondent City of Trenton . That came one day after they made their initial court appearances and were each released on $50,000 bail. TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by federal agents and charged with assault and obstruction of justice, authorities announced on Tuesday. Singletary was charged with assaulting Villanueva. The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was indicted by federal government for the 2017 incident on accusations he deprived the man of his civil rights. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. He is also charged with additional civil rights and obstruction counts in connection to a separate incident in November 2017. 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. Personally, its devastating to him, Hes got a family. Attorney Robin Lord is seeing her client Chanzie Washington's claims of police brutality vindicated. Inman and Villanueva returned to the police station to prepare reports in connection with the victims arrest. He was assisted that night by a police aide (the aide). Mark Kieffer Jr., was not charged in the indictment and not mentioned by name. Katz & Dougherty, LLC, attorneys for appellant Anthony Villanueva (George T. Dougherty , on the briefs). 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. Our journalism needs your support. 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, 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. Newark, NJ 07102, Newark:973-645-2700 The man tells the officers, Stop hitting me in my face.". There are 400+ professionals named "Anthony Villanueva", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. California residents do not sell my data request. The counts against both officers stem from a traffic stop on April 9, 2017, in Trenton. . The violation of civil rights counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A lock ( 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. Date published: Jan 28, 2021. 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. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. Bongiovanni ordered the government to turn over to the defense the names of any witnesses and victims so there wasnt any confusion. 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 was fired in June 2018 and was in the process of fighting to get his job back. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The arresting departments are noted: Coweta County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), Chattahoochee Hills Police Department (CHPD . You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. 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. Man In Easter Bunny Suit Involved In Florida Brawl Wanted In New Jersey For Car Burglaries. An official website of the United States government. Anthony Villanueva and Drew Inman are charged with assault in the 2017 arrest of Chanzie Washington. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. The two appeared to exchange words in the soundless video moments before tempers flared. Suicide Note Revealed After Shocking Death, Indicted! Accountability starts from the top.. To justify their actions, authorities said Inman and Villanueva prepared false and fraudulent reports in which they portrayed Washington as the aggressor and an ongoing threat. Body cam footage obtained by NBC10 shows the man on the ground and crying out in pain while officers are on top of him. FAX: 609-989-2275. 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. So far no charges have been brought against Villanueva, who was cut loose by TPD last year. Its inbred all over. He didnt have a flashlight. 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., FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie called the cops actions a violation of trust., Civil rights violations are of great concern, particularly when the allegations involve a member of law enforcement, he said in a statement. Quaree Singletary engaged in a struggle with city cop Anthony Villanueva after Villanueva abruptly ended Singletary's phone call to relatives. (Image via YouTube) TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by. 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. Court: SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION. The gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are probably throwing a party tonight since he was taken off the street.