The incident was recorded on other officers body cams. 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. He was also seen walking coming down the hall shaking the pepper spray as he approached Singletarys cell. If you encounter them, you need to promptly notify your [attorneys]. Washington complied, according to the indictment, and placed his hands on the fence. 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. Sign up for NewsOne's email newsletter! A number of officers went around to the other side of the fence, including one officer equipped with a body camera. The charges carry up to 10 and 20 years in prison, respectively, and a maximum $250,000 fine if the cops are convicted, the feds said. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Inman is not charged in the Singletary incident. 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. Villanuevas charges also related to his macing of a suspect in police lockup in 2017, according to the six-count indictment. 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 public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. They both face more than 30 years in prison if convicted on all counts. 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. In the Trenton case, city cops Villanueva and Inman were hit in a six-count indictment that charged civilrights deprivation and falsifying police records. 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. A police aide rushed to try to help subdue Singletary, who allegedly elbowed Villanueva during the altercation. 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. 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. Villanueva went back to headquarters to help process Washington. The counts against both officers stem from a traffic stop on April 9, 2017, in Trenton. 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). Felton said in suit that he was beaten so badly during his arrest he suffered bleeding on the brain and other injuries. But there was no long struggle, the OAL judge found. 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. We will have problems if you do.. Like our content? As I reached for the phone, Singletary smacked my hand out of the way.. 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. Villanueva and Inman were among this group. Villanueva, who has since left the police department, is also charged with assaulting a prisoner in a separate incident. _____ Submitted January 12, 2021 - Decided Before Judges Haas, Mawla, and Natali. 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 not what this was.. On November 28, 2017, Villanueva was on duty at the Trenton Police Department Detention Center. 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. On Nov. 28, 2017, Villanueva pepper sprayed a prisoner who was confined to a holding cell at Trenton Police Headquarters, according to authorities. Quaree Singletary engaged in a struggle with city cop Anthony Villanueva after Villanueva abruptly ended Singletary's phone call to relatives. (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED). 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. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Footage from the incident that was obtained by The Trentonian via public records request can be seen below. All rights reserved (About Us). 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 has been with the department a little more than two years and makes more than $57,000 in annual salary. California residents do not sell my data request. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction, in connection with that incident. Villanueva is charged with two counts of obstruction, and Inman with one count of obstruction. The arresting departments are noted: Coweta County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), Chattahoochee Hills Police Department (CHPD . A-4302-18T3 (App. 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. Officer Anthony Villanueva sprays Quaree Singletary with mace during a lengthy struggle in TPD lockup. You can explore additional available newsletters here. 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 locked padlock The indictment was unsealed on Tuesday, and they were both scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. Personally, its devastating to him, Hes got a family. 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. 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. 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. Villanueva has several other issues pending from his four years on the Trenton police force, which all occurred in 2017. An official website of the United States government. The appropriate departmental administrative actions will be taken, he said. Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. Villanueva was fired by the police department, and is the subject of three excessive force lawsuits, according to The Trentonian. 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. 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. Enter the name of a police department or an officer: Press to expand search. He plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court. Villanueva filed a written report later that night setting forth his account of what happened next. 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. 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 . Singletary was charged with assaulting Villanueva. Katz & Dougherty, LLC, attorneys for appellant Anthony Villanueva (George T. Dougherty , on the briefs). All the charges against Felton were later dropped. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The appeals court fully backed the OAL judge, Jeff Masin, in his findings that Villanueva was properly terminated. 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. It aint no joke. 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.. However, the lawsuit painted Singletary as a blameless victim. 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. Trenton, GA Cureton , Phillip Lebron 2/15/1977 9846 W Ridge Trail Rd - Soddy Daisy, TN Curington , Jessica Lee 9/28/1979 The false records counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 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 . YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. with assault on a police officer, which required that Q.S. Inman and Kieffer III are white and Villanueva is Hispanic. TRENTON, NJ - Two Trenton police officers have been arrested by federal agents and charged with assault and obstruction of justice, authorities announced on Tuesday. The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was indicted by federal government for the 2017 incident on accusations he deprived the man of his civil rights. 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. Attorney Robin Lord is seeing her client Chanzie Washington's claims of police brutality vindicated. They cannot resort to excessive force in performing their duties. 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. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 Chanzie Washington was pummeled by cops during an arrest in April 2017. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. With your experience, Im sure youre familiar with your Fifth Amendment rights, Bongiovanni said during the 10-minute court appearance. Anthony Villanueva and Drew Inman are charged with assault in the 2017 arrest of Chanzie Washington. . Villanueva stated he intended to charge Q.S. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Pa. Woman Went Missing in 1992 and Declared Dead. Police Department Kanifah M. Wood, Trenton Police Department Eric W. Woodrow, West Windsor Police Department. Lock 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. Both men are charged with aiding and abetting one another to deprive a man of his civil rights. 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. They are accused of assaulting a man during a traffic stop in 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. All rights reserved, Philly POPS Musicians Disappointed' by Recent Moves, Trump Supporters Get Parole in Philadelphia Weapons Case, Check Your Change! When that trust is violated, it makes it more difficult for our fellow police officers and federal agents to maintain the communitys confidence.. 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. Ballarotto plans to hire a police expert to testify that the officer's physicality was within the law. The public has an absolute right to trust that law enforcement will protect those they serve and keep them safe. 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. 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. Stephen Varn, who is serving as acting police director while Lt. Chris Doyle is on vacation, confirmed Inmans arrest at TPD headquarters. I believe that if my client gets a fair hearing he wont be charged.. Villanuevas attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, insists his client didnt punch the man however. 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. |. Ballarotto said his client is being unfairly vilified as a rogue cop, and he believes the ex-TPDer will get cleared. Anthony Villanueva, then 25, after leaving U.S. District Court in Trenton in an April 2019 file photo.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med. Thats his gun, his physical strength and his courage.. 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.. Newark, NJ 07102, Newark:973-645-2700 FAX: 609-989-2275. Citations Copy Citation. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. The false records counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 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. Her first official day isnt till May 1. Inman and Villanueva returned to the police station to prepare reports in connection with the victims arrest. DOCKET NO. / CBS Philadelphia. Singletary has said he was visited by fed who wanted to know more about the altercation with Villanueva. Official websites use .gov Investigators said he pepper sprayed a defendant while in a holding cell area of Trenton police headquarters. Villanuevas lawyer said the only people who should be happy about the charges are gang members, gun carriers, and drug sellers. 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. Thats what the video shows. 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. Sounds likeVillanueva was under the misconception that police solidarity may is the same if you are a person of color. 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. All Rights Reserved. Please enter valid email address to continue. "It's perfectly proper the way he handled himself," Villanueva's attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, said. Another officer ordered Washington to climb over the fence toward him. 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. 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, NJ. Inmans lawyer has declined to comment. Suicide Note Revealed After Shocking Death, Indicted! Court: SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION. Inman was arrested at the Trenton Police Station Tuesday morning and is now suspended. provided by mercer county prosecutors office, Chanzie Washington's mugshot after being arrested April 9, 2017.