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. Yo, why would you do that, he recalled saying. District of New Jersey 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. 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.. There are 400+ professionals named "Anthony Villanueva", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Inman is not charged in the Singletary incident. Lock The video also captured Villanueva bragging about the arrest later on a phone call. The incident was recorded on other officers body cams. The arresting departments are noted: Coweta County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), Chattahoochee Hills Police Department (CHPD . Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. He was fired in June 2018. Sign up for NewsOne's email newsletter! Theres no evidence that he was punched at that side of his face.. So far no charges have been brought against Villanueva, who was cut loose by TPD last year. 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. The appropriate departmental administrative actions will be taken, he said. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the community's confidence.. 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. 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. Inman is still on restricted duty and Kieffer III is on the streets. Villanueva was assigned to TPD lockup after. Villanueva arrested Felton in March 2017 following a foot pursuit following a reported shooting. 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. Surrounded by police officers, Washington complied when told to raise his hands, according to authorities. Bongiovanni ordered the government to turn over to the defense the names of any witnesses and victims so there wasnt any confusion. On November 28, 2017, Villanueva was on duty at the Trenton Police Department Detention Center. 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. 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 sound picks up after Washington is already on the ground in the first two videos. 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. Almost immediately thereafter, defendant Villanueva strode quickly down the corridor after victim 2, towards Cell 7, carrying a can of Oleoresin Capsicum, also known as OC spray or pepper spray., It goes on to say Villanueva reached through the bars and sprayed OC spray into Cell 7, while victim 2 attempted to shield himself with a mattress.. Anthony Villanueva leaves the federal courthouse in Trenton in this April 2019 file photo. DOCKET NO. Authorities say the driver involved in the stop fled in his vehicle and then on foot as officers pursued. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 Officers try to subdue Quaree Singletary during a lengthy struggle in police lockup. Villanueva was fired by Trenton police last summer for an alleged pattern of excessive force. 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 department found Villanueva violated policy, and charged him internally with conduct unbecoming a public employee and misconduct for the improper use of the spray, and later submitting a false report about the incident. TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by federal agents and charged with assault and obstruction of justice, authorities announced on Tuesday. Sitting next to their attorneys, they remained quiet as U.S. assistant attorney Joseph Gribko briefly recapped the case against them. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. He was assisted that night by a police aide (the aide). Trenton attorney Robin Lord represents Washington, Singletary and a third man, Saalam Felton, in separate lawsuits. Inman, sporting the shaved-head look, was still attired in his Trenton Police garb of a black polo shirt and cargo pants. Full title: IN THE MATTER OF ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. Villanueva appealed his firing to the states Office of Administrative Law (OAL), which in May 2019, following testimony against him from fellow officers, upheld the termination. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction. 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. 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. Police work is difficult and dangerous, but officers need to respect the civil rights of the people they are policing, Carpenito said. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. A number of officers went around to the other side of the fence, including one officer equipped with a body camera. 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. Cannon , Che' Anthony Berry 10/29/1996 2105 Foust St - Chattanooga, TN Cannon , Courtney Leighann 8/15/1991 3254 Plaza Cir - Chattanooga, TN Cannon , Ira 10/20/1996 . However, the lawsuit painted Singletary as a blameless victim. Thats what the video shows. Both men are charged with aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. 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. Main Office: / CBS Philadelphia. Washington complied, according to the indictment, and placed his hands on the fence. He is fighting to get his job back. 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. provided by mercer county prosecutors office, Chanzie Washington's mugshot after being arrested April 9, 2017. Its inbred in internal affairs. Villanueva stated he intended to charge Q.S. 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. _____ Submitted January 12, 2021 - Decided Before Judges Haas, Mawla, and Natali. They punched him numerous times while Washington cried out, stop hitting me, and youve got my hands.. 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 while Inman is charged with one count of obstruction in connection to the incident. 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. Stephen Varn, who is serving as acting police director while Lt. Chris Doyle is on vacation, confirmed Inmans arrest at TPD headquarters. Video of the incident showed Singletary strolling unaccompanied down the hall leading to the jail cells and entering the cell. 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, who has since left the police department, is also charged with assaulting a prisoner in a separate incident. 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. 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. Video footage from inside police lockup showed the entire struggle, beginning in the phone room when Villanueva attempted to end a call Singletary was on with relatives after he was arrested and taken to headquarters on a warrant. The lawsuit faults Parrey, who is no longer police director, for not flagging Villanuevas pattern of unreasonable force.. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Personally, its devastating to him, Hes got a family. 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. Have a question about Government Services? Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Trenton, NJ. All rights reserved, Philly POPS Musicians Disappointed' by Recent Moves, Trump Supporters Get Parole in Philadelphia Weapons Case, Check Your Change! 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. Ballarotto plans to hire a police expert to testify that the officer's physicality was within the law. 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 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. They both face more than 30 years in prison if convicted on all counts. This is not a Rodney King situation, he said. 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. The Trentonian reported on those dustups, both of which were caught on tape. The Newnan Times-Herald. If you encounter them, you need to promptly notify your [attorneys]. 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 went back to headquarters to help process Washington. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. Villanueva and Inman were among this group. Another officer ordered Washington to climb over the fence toward him. ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, CITY OF TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. Villanueva and Inman appeared in federal court Tuesday. 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. Villanueva, who was standing on the same side of the chain-link fence, suddenly appeared out of nowhere, the feds alleged. 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. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. 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. Body cam video acquired by The Trentonian shows an officer, seemingly unprovoked, punch Washington in the head and tackle Washington to the ground, where he was punched even more. The counts against both officers stem from a traffic stop on April 9, 2017, in Trenton. Investigators said he pepper sprayed a defendant while in a holding cell area of Trenton police headquarters. You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. On appeal from the New Jersey Civil Service . Police Department Kanifah M. Wood, Trenton Police Department Eric W. Woodrow, West Windsor Police Department. Its inbred all over. 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. A Trenton police officer and a former colleague accused of assaulting a man they were arresting have both been charged with obstruction of justice and violating the man's civil rights Skip to content Sunday, December 25, 2022 Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The charges and accusations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and Inman and Villanueva are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 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. Trenton Police department was aware of the the investigation and cooperated fully with federal authorities. His report on that incident included a number of false statements in an attempt to hide his unlawful conduct and improper treatment of the prisoner, authorities said. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. I snuck up from behind him and just punched him, he just fell, Villanueva says, mocking Felton by quoting him, You didnt got to punch me man.. Accountability starts from the top.. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. 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. The federal case against them was initially scheduled for trial in 2020, but has been repeatedly postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Villanueva grabbed a bottle of mace from the detention area. Lord was pleased somebody from law enforcement was paying attention and holding these officers accountable for their criminal conduct. When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the communitys confidence.. He was also seen walking coming down the hall shaking the pepper spray as he approached Singletarys cell. Washington also got decked in the face by a Villanueva haymaker after he appeared to surrender to cops from behind a chain-link fence after a long chase. Its inbred in them. 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. He allegedly later completed an incident report that contained numerous false statements to conceal his conduct. He didnt have a taser, he said. Footage from the incident that was obtained by The Trentonian via public records request can be seen below. 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, 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. Body camera footage showed Villanueva tracking down, tackling and punching Felton in the head twice from behind following a foot chase in March 2017. 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. Two Trenton officers involved in arresting Washington after a foot chase in April of 2017 are now facing federal charges. 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 filed a written report later that night setting forth his account of what happened next. 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. The man who the officers arrested is no longer in jail and his eluding and obstruction charges were later dropped. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. "It's a question of respect. It isn't entirely clear what is happening in the third video, which was shot from a distance. 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. Villanueva and Inman were each ordered released on $50,000 unsecured bonds with conditions. She sounded indignant as she discussed her decades-long struggle to help clients who described being beaten up and abused by TPD officers. 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. Villanueva was fired in June 2018 and was in the process of fighting to get his job back. I believe that if my client gets a fair hearing he wont be charged.. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. Like our content? Without issuing any warning or command, defendant Villanueva moved swiftly towards victim 1 and punched victim 1 in the face, the indictment states. 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. 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. 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 wore all black, his lean frame topped by a mop of curly jet black hair. 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. The video shows a fence separated Washington from most of the officers, who had their guns trained on him. 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. 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. That case is pending in federal court. California residents do not sell my data request. Both Inman and Villanueva were granted unsecured bail on Tuesday, meaning they can go home. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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.
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