Quaree Singletary uses a bed mattress to shield himself from mace during a struggle in TPD lockup. 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. Villanueva and Inman, their hands shackled in front of them, appeared Tuesday afternoon before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni. DOCKET NO. Video of the incident showed Singletary strolling unaccompanied down the hall leading to the jail cells and entering the cell. 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. Inman has been with the department a little more than two years and makes more than $57,000 in annual salary. 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. TPD Officer Drew Inman, center, was caught on tape punching a suspect in the face while other cops placed him in cuffs. Both defendants are charged with one count aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. FAX: 609-989-2275. The Trentonian reported on those dustups, both of which were caught on tape. Swung his arm around his neck and brought him to the ground, he said. 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). It was not immediately clear if that charge was dropped. 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. You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. Main Office: 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. 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. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. Felton said in suit that he was beaten so badly during his arrest he suffered bleeding on the brain and other injuries. Villanueva came up from Washingtons side and punched him in the face while Inman tackled him to the ground. While Washington was complying, Villanueva punched him in the face. Villanueva was fired by the police department, and is the subject of three excessive force lawsuits, according to The Trentonian. NBC10 obtained body cam footage of the incident. Citations Copy Citation. I dont want you back here because of a mistake. Sign up for our free summaries and get the latest delivered directly to you. Villanueva was fired last year and faces a separate federal charge for allegedly pepper spraying a man in a police holding cell. Dougherty believes the city made a pile of mistakes investigating Villanueva, including not interviewing his client or his supervising sergeant. Police Department Kanifah M. Wood, Trenton Police Department Eric W. Woodrow, West Windsor Police Department. 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. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. Hearing Impaired: 973-645-6227 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. 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. 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. Two Trenton officers involved in arresting Washington after a foot chase in April of 2017 are now facing federal charges. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. 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. Sounds likeVillanueva was under the misconception that police solidarity may is the same if you are a person of color. The charges and accusations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and Inman and Villanueva are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 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. Villanueva, who has since left the police department, is also charged with assaulting a prisoner in a separate incident. 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. Villanueva claimed Singletary assaulted him during a phone call from jail, then had a long struggle to get him back in a jail cell and handcuffed, forcing him to use pepper spray. Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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 video shows a fence separated Washington from most of the officers, who had their guns trained on him. The gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are probably throwing a party tonight since he was taken off the street. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. Bongiovanni ordered the government to turn over to the defense the names of any witnesses and victims so there wasnt any confusion. 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. All the gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are all gonna be happy tonight that Anthonys no longer a police officer, Ballarotto said. 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. 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. However, the lawsuit painted Singletary as a blameless victim. Villanueva was fired by Trenton police last summer for an alleged pattern of excessive force. Investigators say Inman and Villanueva prepared and submitted false and fraudulent reports in order to justify their actions and portray the man as the aggressor and an ongoing threat. I never want to be maced again in my life, Singletary previously told this newspaper. Singletary has said he was visited by fed who wanted to know more about the altercation with 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. Villanuevas lawyer said the only people who should be happy about the charges are gang members, gun carriers, and drug sellers. 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. be arrested and re-processed. 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. With your experience, Im sure youre familiar with your Fifth Amendment rights, Bongiovanni said during the 10-minute court appearance. Capt. 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. The lawsuit faults Parrey, who is no longer police director, for not flagging Villanuevas pattern of unreasonable force.. My eyes burned for like two, three days.. Mark Kieffer Jr., was not charged in the indictment and not mentioned by name. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. On April 9, 2017 in Trenton, New Jersey, Chanzie Washington allegedly led cops on a car chase and then ran on foot. Villanueva went back to headquarters to help process Washington. 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. 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.. The false records counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. . Body cam footage obtained by NBC10 shows the man on the ground and crying out in pain while officers are on top of him. He was assisted that night by a police aide (the aide). Anthony Villanueva, Trenton Police Department Adam L. Wills, Pemberton Twp. As the cell door began to close and was almost shut, Villanueva sprayed the chemical agent inside. 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 also faces charges in connection to another incident in which he allegedly pepper sprayed a defendant in a holding cell. He was also seen walking coming down the hall shaking the pepper spray as he approached Singletarys cell. Former officer Anthony Villanueva and current officer Drew Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday afternoon. 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. And then you have the old regime supervising these people. Those cops beat the living sh** out of Rodney King, and those cops overstepped their bounds. All rights reserved, Philly POPS Musicians Disappointed' by Recent Moves, Trump Supporters Get Parole in Philadelphia Weapons Case, Check Your Change! District of New Jersey There are 400+ professionals named "Anthony Villanueva", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. 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.. Former officer Anthony Villanueva and current officer Drew Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday afternoon. Washington and Salaam Felton, now of St. Charles, Missouri, also claimed in separate lawsuits they were beaten to a pulp by Villanueva. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. She sounded indignant as she discussed her decades-long struggle to help clients who described being beaten up and abused by TPD officers. It aint no joke. . Sitting next to their attorneys, they remained quiet as U.S. assistant attorney Joseph Gribko briefly recapped the case against them. Suicide Note Revealed After Shocking Death, Indicted! An official website of the United States government. Newark, NJ 07102, Newark:973-645-2700 To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Valley Forge Military Academy Cadet Speaks To CBS3 About Alleged Verbal, Physical Abuse At Hands Of Students. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Inman, sporting the shaved-head look, was still attired in his Trenton Police garb of a black polo shirt and cargo pants. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The video appeared to show Singletary slapping Villanuevas hand away from the phone. 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 false records counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Villanueva filed a written report later that night setting forth his account of what happened next. 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. Quaree Singletary, of Ewing, claims he was physically assaulted by Villanueva in lockup at Trenton Police headquarters on Nov. 28, 2017, and suffers from serious bodily injuries to his brain, head, face and body.. As I reached for the phone, Singletary smacked my hand out of the way.. 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). 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. That came one day after they made their initial court appearances and were each released on $50,000 bail. The incident was recorded on other officers body cams. 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. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. Washington jumped into the canal and swam to the opposite bank, climbing up a steep, brush-lined embankment near a parking lot. 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. 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. He allegedly later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements to conceal his conduct. But there was no long struggle, the OAL judge found. ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. I know its a small community, the judge told the defendants. The man tells the officers, Stop hitting me in my face.". Chanzie Washington was pummeled by cops during an arrest in April 2017. The Newnan Times-Herald. Its a whole family of public servants in the city of Trenton, he said. 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. Thats not what this was.. Officers try to subdue Quaree Singletary during a lengthy struggle in police lockup. All Rights Reserved. The video includes body cameras from three officers, but not from Villanueva or Inman. Investigators said he pepper sprayed a defendant while in a holding cell area of Trenton police headquarters. Stephen Varn, who is serving as acting police director while Lt. Chris Doyle is on vacation, confirmed Inmans arrest at TPD headquarters. Villanueva and Inman were each ordered released on $50,000 unsecured bonds with conditions. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Villanuevas charges also related to his macing of a suspect in police lockup in 2017, according to the six-count indictment. 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. "It's perfectly proper the way he handled himself," Villanueva's attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, said. Aerotek Mark Anthony Villanueva They both face more than 30 years in prison if convicted on all counts. 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 plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court. Its inbred in internal affairs. Singletary and his attorneys may be banking on power in numbers. On November 28, 2017, Villanueva was on duty at the Trenton Police Department Detention Center. Ballarotto said his client is being unfairly vilified as a rogue cop, and he believes the ex-TPDer will get cleared. A number of officers went around to the other side of the fence, including one officer equipped with a body camera. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Man In Easter Bunny Suit Involved In Florida Brawl Wanted In New Jersey For Car Burglaries. Jerome Ballarotto, Villanuevas attorney, confirmed the FBI went to his clients house in Ewing around 6 a.m. and arrested him at gunpoint, terrorizing his wife and children. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the community's confidence.. 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. 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. You can explore additional available newsletters here. 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. 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. 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. 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. Get free summaries of new New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division - Unpublished Opinions opinions delivered to your inbox! 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. The sound picks up after Washington is already on the ground in the first two videos. Villanueva and Inman were among this group. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. 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 is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction, in connection with that incident. 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. Villanueva also faces three civil lawsuits from Washington, Singletary, and Salaam Felton.
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