Tag:

Use of Force

NO CHOICE: Police Justified Shooting Knife-Wielding NJ Man, Grand Jury Finds NO CHOICE: Police Justified Shooting Knife-Wielding NJ Man, Grand Jury Finds
NO Choice: Police Justified Shooting Knife-Wielding NJ Man, Grand Jury Finds UPDATE: Police were justified in shooting a New Jersey man seen on bodycam video charging at an officer with a knife, a grand jury investigation required by state law found. Luke Mendez, 26, had his wrapped around the knife handle as he barreled down the steps of an Old Bridge home last April 24. Mendez was only two steps from the landing -- less than three feet from an Old Bridge officer -- when he left police no choice. Mendez was pronounced dead at a local hospital about 90 minutes later. Grand jurors reviewed various evidence but didn't really need any more than the bodycam video…
UPDATE: Paterson Police Officer Indicted For Shooting Unarmed Man In Back As He Ran UPDATE: Paterson Police Officer Indicted For Shooting Unarmed Man In Back As He Ran
Update: Paterson Police Officer Indicted For Shooting Unarmed Man In Back As He Ran "Drop the gun!" a Paterson police officer shouts several times as he chases a fleeing man down a city street. Suddenly, two shots ring out and Khalif Cooper falls face down in the street. Officer Jerry Moravek, who fired the shots, handcuffs Cooper, 28, who is heard on a bodycam video telling him, "I don't got no gun." A grand jury agreed. Moravek was indicted in Trenton on criminal charges this week for shooting the unarmed Cooper, who was left paralyzed, in June 2022, state Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced on Thursday, Dec. 7. “Deadly force against a fleeing suspect must be u…
'Improper, Unlawful': Trooper Punched Handcuffed Drunk Woman In Face, NJ Attorney General Says 'Improper, Unlawful': Trooper Punched Handcuffed Drunk Woman In Face, NJ Attorney General Says
'Improper, Unlawful': Trooper Punched Handcuffed Drunk Woman In Face, NJ Attorney General Says A New Jersey State Police trooper was charged with punching a handcuffed woman in the face as she sat in the back of a cruiser awaiting a medical evaluation. Nicolas J. Hogan, 28, of Gibbstown, was among a group of troopers who responded to a report of a trespasser at a home in Cumberland County’s Upper Deerfield Township around 1:30 a.m. Sept. 7, 2022. Two troopers found the victim walking in the middle of the road drunk. She needed a medical evaluation, so the troopers kept her detained -- but not under arrest -- and called for a medical unit, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platk…
South Jersey Man Killed Himself, Officer Who Fired Weapon Only Grazed Him, Grand Jury Finds South Jersey Man Killed Himself, Officer Who Fired Weapon Only Grazed Him, Grand Jury Finds
South Jersey Man Killed Himself, Officer Who Fired Weapon Only Grazed Him, Grand Jury Finds UPDATE: A Cherry Hill police officer who fired his service weapon at a man who’d just shot himself in a private home last year did nothing wrong, a state grand jury has found. The single shot fired by Officer Jared Fox only grazed Joseph S. Bestic Jr., 63, on Oct. 11, 2022, according to New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. Officers had been called to conduct a welfare check at the home on Chapel Avenue West, the attorney general said. Bestic allowed them in and soon after grabbed a gun and shot himself, Platkin said. He was later pronounced dead at the scene. Platkin’s Office …
Jersey City Man Shot By Police Charged At Them Wielding Large Knife, Videos Show Jersey City Man Shot By Police Charged At Them Wielding Large Knife, Videos Show
Jersey City Man Shot By Police Charged At Them Wielding Large Knife, Videos Show UPDATE: Less than a month after Jersey City police shot and killed a disturbed resident, state authorities publicly released videos that show him charging at tactical officers with a knife. Family members, friends and others have spent the time since the Aug. 27 incident calling city police murderers, accusing authorities of withholding information and demanding what they say is accountability for Andrew Washington’s death. During a protest outside City Hall on Wednesday, Sept.,20, they claimed that they were deliberately being kept in the dark. What some may not have known is that an inve…
Detective Found Justified In Shooting NJ Man Now Paralyzed For Life Detective Found Justified In Shooting NJ Man Now Paralyzed For Life
Detective Found Justified In Shooting NJ Man Now Paralyzed For Life A Mercer County Grand Jury found that police use of force was justified in the February 2022 shooting of a 29-year-old Trenton man that left him paralyzed, authorities announced. Jajuan Henderson had been accused of ramming a police car and other vehicles in an alleged attempt to flee from police on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, before Trenton Det. Michael Gettler opened fire, according to a release from the Union County Prosecutor's Office. The UCPO handled the investigation due to a conflict between Trenton police and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. The incident unfolded on Centre Str…
'No Safety Without Trust': AG Takes Over Paterson PD, Pledges Changes In Mental Crisis Policing 'No Safety Without Trust': AG Takes Over Paterson PD, Pledges Changes In Mental Crisis Policing
'No Safety Without Trust': AG Takes Over Paterson PD, Pledges Changes In Mental Crisis Policing “There is no safety without trust,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in announcing a state takeover of the day-to-day operations of the Paterson Police Department and plans to include mental health professionals in responses to barricaded individuals there and statewide. Experience has shown that both moves are absolutely necessary at the moment, the state’s top law enforcement officer said. “There is a crisis of confidence in law enforcement in this city,” Platkin said, speaking outside the Frank X. Graves Jr. Public Safety Complex on Broadway on March 27. “Under these ci…
UPDATE: Paterson Officer Charged By State Authorities For Shooting Fleeing Man In Back UPDATE: Paterson Officer Charged By State Authorities For Shooting Fleeing Man In Back
Update: Paterson Officer Charged By State Authorities For Shooting Fleeing Man In Back "Drop the gun!" a Paterson police officer shouted several times as he chased a fleeing man down a city street before dawn this past June. Suddenly, two shots rang out and unarmed 28-year-old Khalif Cooper fell face down in the street. Officer Jerry Moravek, who fired the shots, handcuffed Cooper, who is heard on police bodycam video telling him, "I don't got no gun." He didn't have one, said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin in announcing on Monday, Feb. 6 that his office had charged Moravek with aggravated assault and official misconduct. Moravek, 40, violated the state's …
Disturbing Footage Shows Officer Shooting Barking Dog Whose NJ Owner Says Is 'Not Dangerous' Disturbing Footage Shows Officer Shooting Barking Dog Whose NJ Owner Says Is 'Not Dangerous'
Disturbing Footage Shows Officer Shooting Barking Dog Whose NJ Owner Says Is 'Not Dangerous' A Monmouth County couple is facing charges after their dog allegedly acted aggressively toward a resident and prompted an officer to shoot the dog, authorities said (scroll for video). Alexyss Ferrara, 29, and Angel Velez Jr, 34, both of Keyport, have been charged with possessing a dangerous dog and multiple violations of local ordinances in regards to an incident Saturday, Oct. 22 involving their dog Blaze, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago. Video footage shows the dog, identified in social media posts as "Blaze," barking and running toward police. An offi…
Use Of Force Justified In South Jersey Police Shooting: Prosecutor Use Of Force Justified In South Jersey Police Shooting: Prosecutor
Use Of Force Justified In South Jersey Police Shooting: Prosecutor Camden County authorities, after an investigation, have concluded that the use of force was justified in a police shooting last year. The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office has completed its investigation into the Aug. 23, 2021, use of force by Officer Vincent Leonetti of the Monroe Township Police Department and Sergeant James Graham of the Deptford Township Police Department. CCPO determined that it is not necessary to present this matter to the Grand Jury because there were no material facts in dispute regarding the lawfulness of the use of force, the prosecutor said. The incident occurr…
NJSP Sergeant Justified In Shooting NY State Man During Furious GS Parkway Struggle Over Gun NJSP Sergeant Justified In Shooting NY State Man During Furious GS Parkway Struggle Over Gun
Njsp Sergeant Justified In Shooting NY State Man During Furious GS Parkway Struggle Over Gun A New Jersey State Police sergeant was justified in fatally shooting a New York State man who jumped him and tried taking his gun during a furious struggle on the shoulder of the Garden State Parkway, a grand jury has found. NJSP Staff Sgt. Randall Wetzel ended what had been a series of interactions between Maurice Gordon, 28, of Poughkeepsie, NY and law enforcers in Brick Township, Waretown, Stafford and, ultimately, Bass River in Burlington County, in an encounter two years ago that was captured on video. New Jersey law required a grand jury review of the incident despite the circumstance…
Police In NJ Subdue Knife-Wielding Suspect Who Refused To Relent Police In NJ Subdue Knife-Wielding Suspect Who Refused To Relent
Police In NJ Subdue Knife-Wielding Suspect Who Refused To Relent An incident that could have easily gone sideways ended successfully Monday when a pair of Elmwood Park police officers subdued a suspect who stabbed himself and then refused to relinquish the knife. Nasir Clark, 21, of Paterson had violated a court order by going to his ex-girlfriend's home off River Drive, Police Chief Michael Foligno said, noting that his department has "dealing with this with him the past couple of weeks now." Clark was charged earlier this year with punching and pistol-whipping the victim. SEE: Fugitive Wanted For Punching, Pistol-Whipping Woman Surrenders To Elmw…
NJ Attorney General Releases Footage Of Fatal Police Encounter NJ Attorney General Releases Footage Of Fatal Police Encounter
NJ Attorney General Releases Footage Of Fatal Police Encounter VIDEO: A bloodied, agitated suspect writhes uncontrollably, falls down and then goes limp while being handcuffed by Paterson police, body camera footage released Wednesday shows. “I lost his pulse,” a city EMT firefighter tells the officers after they lift a lifeless Jose Gonzalez onto a gurney. “CPR?” one asks. They then remove the cuffs, turn him onto his back and begin chest compressions as the footage ends. Gonzalez, 41, of Paterson, was pronounced dead at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center less than an hour later, authorities said. Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bru…