Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. This is not a Rodney King situation, he said. 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 public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. 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. 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. The appeals court fully backed the OAL judge, Jeff Masin, in his findings that Villanueva was properly terminated. A lock ( He didnt have a baton. 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. So far no charges have been brought against Villanueva, who was cut loose by TPD last year. Both men are charged with aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. Villanueva grabbed a bottle of mace from the detention area. 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. 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 . Trenton Police department was aware of the the investigation and cooperated fully with federal authorities. Its inbred all over. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. Trenton, GA Cureton , Phillip Lebron 2/15/1977 9846 W Ridge Trail Rd - Soddy Daisy, TN Curington , Jessica Lee 9/28/1979 You dont want to come back here. It burns. 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. All Rights Reserved. Villanueva filed a written report later that night setting forth his account of what happened next. Trenton:609-989-2190 You're all set! IN THE MATTER OF VILLANUEVA - leagle.com On Nov. 28, 2017, Villanueva pepper sprayed a prisoner who was confined to a holding cell at Trenton Police Headquarters, according to authorities. 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 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. An official website of the United States government. Third excessive force suit brought against ex-Trenton cop Anthony 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. The Trentonian reported on those dustups, both of which were caught on tape. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Authorities said Villanueva punched the driver in the face and Inman tackled him. 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. 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. Thats not what this was.. 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. "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. Quaree Singletary engaged in a struggle with city cop Anthony Villanueva after Villanueva abruptly ended Singletary's phone call to relatives. He was also seen walking coming down the hall shaking the pepper spray as he approached Singletarys cell. 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. Fired cop facing federal excessive force charges speaks out. 'I - nj Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Villanueva was fired by the police department, and is the subject of three excessive force lawsuits, according to The Trentonian. Personally, its devastating to him, Hes got a family. 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. 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. 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. 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. Anthony Villanueva, then 25, after leaving U.S. District Court in Trenton in an April 2019 file photo.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med. Villanueva arrested Felton in March 2017 following a foot pursuit following a reported shooting. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction while Inman is charged with one count of obstruction in connection to the incident. 970 Broad Street, 7th Floor / CBS Philadelphia. You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. Enter the name of a police department or an officer: Press to expand search. FAX:973-645-2702 PDF Inmate Release Report Attorneys Molly Lorber, Joseph Gribko and Ray Mateo of the U.S. Attorney=s Office Criminal Division in Trenton in the criminal case. Villanueva has several other issues pending from his four years on the Trenton police force, which all occurred in 2017. Anthony Villanueva leaves the federal courthouse in Trenton in this April 2019 file photo. 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. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. 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. 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. Indictment alleges police assaulted suspects in Trenton; two - WHYY Suicide Note Revealed After Shocking Death, Indicted! In re Villanueva. 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). Singletary was charged with assaulting Villanueva. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. FBI arrests Trenton police officer at TPD headquarters in excessive 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. 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. He was fired in June 2018. 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. And then you have the old regime supervising these people. 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. Singletary and his attorneys may be banking on power in numbers. Swung his arm around his neck and brought him to the ground, he said. According toTrentonian,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 within a week, but Inman remained on the streets for more than a month before being placed on restriction. As of last month,Villanueva was suspended without pay. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. The man tells the officers, Stop hitting me in my face.". In the footage below, the officers are heard yelling at Washington. Villanueva was fired last year and faces a separate federal charge for allegedly pepper spraying a man in a police holding cell. 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. Trenton Police Officer Drew Inman and ex-officer Anthony Villanueva are accused of assaulting a man who was complying with their demands. Main Office: Michigan Department of Corrections via AP Law enforcement officials on Tuesday named Anthony Dwayne McRae, a 43-year-old resident of Lansing, Michigan, as the suspect in the overnight shooting at Michigan State University that took the lives of three students and wounded five others. Troubled cops sully Trenton Police Department's reputation He didnt have a flashlight. Third excessive force suit brought against, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Third excessive force suit brought against ex-Trenton cop Anthony Villanueva, Mayor Reed Gusciora along with multiple City Council members celebrate Mother-Son Duo in TFD, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc set to host a political talk for Mercer County Executive Candidates, Parkinsons symptoms eased by non-surgical procedure, study shows, Admiral Rachel Levine discusses the national opioid epidemic in talk at Kutztown University, Singletarys encounter with the troubled ex-cop, separate altercation months before with Chanzie Washington, Trenton boys basketballs historic 29-win season ends in Group IV state semifinals, The BAPS Temple in Robbinsville is truly worth the trip (JEFF EDELSTEIN COLUMN), Lifelong bestfriends set to be first recreational cannabis business owners in Trenton, Two former Lawrenceville School housemasters accused of sexual abuse, Joi Johnson leads Ewing girls basketball past Ocean City, back to Group III state title game, Pennington School teacher charged with having sex with 16-year-old student, Trentonian's Pet of the Week: Mia is at Trenton Animal Shelter, Burlington County Commissioners green light planning and design for additional roundabout in Chesterfield, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 2 Trenton Police Officers Facing Federal Charges After - CBS News 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. In the Matter of Anthony Villanueva City of Trenton Police Department 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. Jan. 28, 2021) From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research. Lord was pleased somebody from law enforcement was paying attention and holding these officers accountable for their criminal conduct. Its inbred in the academy. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Pa. Woman Went Missing in 1992 and Declared Dead. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction, in connection with that incident. Washington and Salaam Felton, now of St. Charles, Missouri, also claimed in separate lawsuits they were beaten to a pulp by Villanueva. Inman and Kieffer III are white and Villanueva is Hispanic. The arresting departments are noted: Coweta County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), Chattahoochee Hills Police Department (CHPD . 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. 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. 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. The man was eventually surrounded by Trenton police officers and complied when he was ordered to put his hands in the air. He didnt have a taser, he said. Arrest Log: February 2022 - The Newnan Times-Herald 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 . Capt. Officer Drew Inman and former city Officer Anthony Villanueva entered their pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. The indictment was unsealed on Tuesday, and they were both scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Its inbred in them. Docket #: 1879852 Defendant: CHANDLER , ANTHONY Charge: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Arresting Officer: MORTON, STONEY #012, Complaint #: A 029285G 2022 Arrest Date: 7/3/2022 Presiding Judge: ABLES, LARRY Division: 3 Court Room: 3 CJUS8023 Hamilton County General Sessions Court - Criminal Division Trial Docket 3/1/2023 Page No: 3 ar_Master_Docket The whole scuffle was caught on surveillance cameras and the footage was released to The Trentonian. 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 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. 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. However, the lawsuit painted Singletary as a blameless victim. The gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are probably throwing a party tonight since he was taken off the street. Villanuevas attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, insists his client didnt punch the man however. On April 9, 2017 in Trenton, New Jersey, Chanzie Washington allegedly led cops on a car chase and then ran on foot. 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. All the gun-toting drug dealers in Trenton are all gonna be happy tonight that Anthonys no longer a police officer, Ballarotto said. 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. DOCKET NO. be arrested and re-processed. All Rights Reserved. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. 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. Hearing Impaired: 973-645-6227 His father was a police officer. The maximum fine for each of the charges is $250,000. The violation of civil rights counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. April 23, 2019 / 6:49 PM Scott Krasny, Inmans attorney, declined to comment. 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. Lock Villanueva, who has since left the police department, is also charged with assaulting a prisoner in a separate incident. Mar. 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. We will have problems if you do.. 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 You can explore additional available newsletters here. 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. NBC10 obtained body cam footage of the incident. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. The man was eventually surrounded by the officers and complied when he was ordered to put his hands in the air, officials said. Thats what the video shows. Sign up for NewsOne's email newsletter! 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. Chanzie Washington was pummeled by cops during an arrest in April 2017. They are accused of assaulting a man during a traffic stop in 2017. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Body camera footage showed Villanueva tracking down, tackling and punching Felton in the head twice from behind following a foot chase in March 2017. FBI Arrests 2 Trenton Cops For Assault, Obstruction 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. Search the most comprehensive statewide database of police use of force in the U.S.