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Trenton Police Department

'Unconstitutional:' Feds Slam Trenton Police For Excessive Force, Illegal Stops 'Unconstitutional:' Feds Slam Trenton Police For Excessive Force, Illegal Stops
'Unconstitutional:' Feds Slam Trenton Police For Excessive Force, Illegal Stops Federal investigators have accused the Trenton Police Department (TPD) of widespread civil rights violations, including excessive force and illegal arrests, calling the department’s practices “unconstitutional” in a damning report released Thursday, Nov. 21. The Department of Justice (DOJ) found that TPD officers routinely stopped and searched individuals without reasonable suspicion, made arrests without probable cause, and escalated encounters with excessive force.  These practices, compounded by poor training, inadequate oversight, and a lack of accountability, have eroded community…
DWI Driver Strikes Trenton Pedestrian, Rams 3 Cars Before Flipping: Police DWI Driver Strikes Trenton Pedestrian, Rams 3 Cars Before Flipping: Police
DWI Driver Strikes Trenton Pedestrian, Rams 3 Cars Before Flipping: Police A suspected drunken driver plowed through three cars and struck a pedestrian in Trenton, authorities said. The chain reaction collision occurred at about 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, July 9 at 1120 S. Broad St., Trenton police said. Diogenes Martinez Ramirez, 46, of Trenton, was later charged with driving while intoxicated, assault by auto, reckless driving and other moving violations, police said. As Trenton Police Officer Michael Cruse and Officer Maria Herrera-Corcuera approached Liberty Street on South Broad Street they observed a 2020 Toyota Rav4 recklessly heading into their lane from the onco…
E-Scooter Rider Remains Critical After July Fourth Crash In Trenton (UPDATE) E-Scooter Rider Remains Critical After July Fourth Crash In Trenton (UPDATE)
E-Scooter Rider Remains Critical After July Fourth Crash In Trenton (Update) A teenager remains in critical condition after a July Fourth crash on an electric scooter in Trenton, authorities said. "He is still intubated and critical," Detective Lieutenant Lisette Rios, a Trenton police spokeswoman, said on Monday morning, July 8. The driver of the car that collided with the scooter was not found at fault, Rios said. At approximately 9:50 p.m. on July 4, Trenton police received a call about a collision with injuries at the intersection of Division Street and S. Clinton Avenue, they said.  "Patrol Bureau officers responded to the scene and observed an olde…
NJ Restaurant Owner Preyed On Job Applicant, Sexually Assaulted Others, Authorities Say NJ Restaurant Owner Preyed On Job Applicant, Sexually Assaulted Others, Authorities Say
NJ Restaurant Owner Preyed On Job Applicant, Sexually Assaulted Others, Authorities Say The owner of three restaurants in Trenton has been arrested for multiple sexual assaults including a job applicant, authorities said. Gerald Araya, 44, of Ewing, was arrested in Trenton on Wednesday, June 19, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri, Lawrence Township Police Chief Christopher Longo and Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson.  He is charged with five counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, one count of first-degree sexual assault, two counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of first-degree kidnapping, two counts o…
Pedestrian, 26, Killed In Trenton Hit-Run Crash, Police Seek Tips Pedestrian, 26, Killed In Trenton Hit-Run Crash, Police Seek Tips
Pedestrian, 26, Killed In Trenton Hit-Run Crash, Police Seek Tips Trenton police seek the public's help in locating a Toyota that was involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash with a pedestrian. On Saturday, June 1, at approximately 4:30 a.m. Trenton Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to a person down on the street in the 800 block of S. Clinton Ave.  ALSO SEE: Mom Of Woman Killed In Trenton Hit-Run Lost 3 Kids In 5-Year Span The victim sustained multiple fractures and other serious injuries and died of cardiac arrest, Trenton police said. The victim was identified as 26-year-old Shydasia Merrick of Trenton. The vehicle has been ident…
Reign Of Terror: NJ Ex-Con Gets 16 Years For Series Of Armed Robberies, Carjackings Reign Of Terror: NJ Ex-Con Gets 16 Years For Series Of Armed Robberies, Carjackings
Reign Of Terror: NJ Ex-Con Gets 16 Years For Series Of Armed Robberies, Carjackings 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A 25-year-old ex-con from Trenton who’s already served 2½ years in state prison is headed to federal prison for 16 more for a string of gunpoint carjackings and robberies. Joshua M. Perez was one of three armed robbers who commited a Oct. 10 carjacking, another on Dec. 5 and the robbery later than second night of a local gas station, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Surveillance cameras captured video of Perez and two other robbers emerging from a sedan, pointing handguns at occupants of another vehicle, Sellinger said. They then fled with money and cellphones in the victims…
Pair Of 7-11 Burglars Arrested: Trenton PD Pair Of 7-11 Burglars Arrested: Trenton PD
Pair Of 7-11 Burglars Arrested: Trenton PD Two Trenton men have been arrested in connection with a burglary last month at a 7-11 store, authorities said. Martin Luther Melvin, 55, and Venta Hayes Jr., 37, were charged in the theft, a Trenton police spokeswoman said on Thursday, May 2. On April 24, at approximately 5 a.m., Trenton Police Patrol officers responded to the 7-11 at 828 N. Olden Ave. on a reported commercial burglary.  Thousands of dollars in merchandise, including cigarettes, cigars, New Jersey Lottery tickets, and candy were reported stolen, police said. Surveillance footage revealed an individual, later ide…
Double-Shooting, Crash Leave Pair Dead In Trenton Church Parking Lot: Prosecutor Double-Shooting, Crash Leave Pair Dead In Trenton Church Parking Lot: Prosecutor
Double-Shooting, Crash Leave Pair Dead In Trenton Church Parking Lot: Prosecutor Two men from Mercer County were killed in a pair of shootings and a car crash in a Trenton church parking lot on Wednesday night, May 1, authorities said. Jerome Francis, 43, of Hamilton, and Chevaughn Fagan, 28, of Trenton, died after the double shooting, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J Onofri. The heavily damaged car's airbags deployed, the said. The Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department are investigating, Onofri said on Thursday, May 2. No arrests had been made, he said. At approximately 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday,  Trenton police …
Trenton Man, 29, Killed In Pedestrian Hit-Run Crash ID'd: Police Trenton Man, 29, Killed In Pedestrian Hit-Run Crash ID'd: Police
Trenton Man, 29, Killed In Pedestrian Hit-Run Crash ID'd: Police Trenton police have identified the pedestrian killed by a hit-and-run driver on Saturday, April 27. Kenneth Paillant, 29, of Trenton, was killed in the crash, police said on Wednesday, April 30. The crash occurred at 3:10 a.m. on the 200 block of North Clinton Ave., police said. Trenton Police Detective Mark Kieffer was flagged down in the Trenton Police headquarters parking lot by concerned citizens. These citizens indicated a male was injured in the street in front of 268 N. Clinton Ave after being struck by a vehicle that fled, police said. Kieffer requested an ambulance…
Trenton Animal Shelter Taken Over By City Police Department Trenton Animal Shelter Taken Over By City Police Department
Trenton Animal Shelter Taken Over By City Police Department Trenton Animal Shelter will now be overseen by the city's police department. The reorganization is part of an executive order meant to strengthen management and ease overcrowding. Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora's executive order also creates a new five-member animal welfare advisory board. Trenton Police Lt. Alexis Durlacher will call the shots as the shelter’s new chief. Durlacher has had past animal control experience, the mayor said. Animal welfare, adoption services, pet ownership education and humane animal control enforcement will be among the priorities, the mayor said. "The welfare …
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…
Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Man Faces Weapons Charge As Authorities Make Murder Arrest In Trenton Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Man Faces Weapons Charge As Authorities Make Murder Arrest In Trenton
Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Man Faces Weapons Charge As Authorities Make Murder Arrest In Trenton A 31-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in Trenton last fall, and a man who was with him at the time was charged on a weapons offense, authorities said. Killed in the shooting was Chron Jenks, 34, of Ewing, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri. Trayvon Stokes, of Trenton, is charged with first-degree murder and multiple weapons offenses. Stokes was taken into custody Tuesday, Feb. 21 in Trenton.  A subsequent warranted search was made at Stokes' residence by members of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Mercer&nb…
‘War Ready’: Armed NJ Heroin Dealer Sentenced To 19 Years Without Parole ‘War Ready’: Armed NJ Heroin Dealer Sentenced To 19 Years Without Parole
‘War Ready’: Armed NJ Heroin Dealer Sentenced To 19 Years Without Parole UPDATE: A New Jersey drug dealer who once served state prison time is headed to a federal penitentiary for a plea-bargained 19 years without parole. Jakir “Jak” Taylor, 32, was a key figure in an alliance of two violent rival gangs who once dominated the heroin trade on Trenton’s north and west side neighborhoods, authorities said. He's also the last of 26 defendants swept up in a joint law enforcement operation that smashed that operation. Taylor and conspirator Jerome Roberts collected heroin bricks by the hundreds from David “Papi” Antonio that were sold in individual bags, authorities …
Final Defendant In Trenton Police Car Firebombing Gets 27 Months In Fed Pen Final Defendant In Trenton Police Car Firebombing Gets 27 Months In Fed Pen
Final Defendant In Trenton Police Car Firebombing Gets 27 Months In Fed Pen UPDATE: A Trenton man who threw a makeshift Molotov cocktail into a city police vehicle following a protest was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison. Kadeem A. Dockery, 31, is the last of four defendants sentenced in U.S. District Court in connection with the May 31, 2020 protest in Trenton. Video captured by surveillance cameras and personal cellphones helped authorities identify Dockery, who was arrested a little over two months later, and Killian F Melecio, 22, of Columbus, NJ. Rather than face trial, Dockery took a deal from the government, pleading guilty in May 2021 to attemptin…
FEDS: Getaway Minivan Driver Gets 12 Years, No Parole, For Armed Robbery Spree In NJ, PA FEDS: Getaway Minivan Driver Gets 12 Years, No Parole, For Armed Robbery Spree In NJ, PA
Feds: Getaway Minivan Driver Gets 12 Years, No Parole, For Armed Robbery Spree In NJ, PA UPDATE: The man who drove the getaway car -- actually a minivan -- in an armed robbery spree in New Jersey and Pennsylvania must spend the next 12 years in federal prison. Omar Feliciano-Estremera, 45, was the wheelman for a fellow Trentonian Gabriel Lopez, who authorities said fired a gun during one of the holdups. The pair committed the robberies at mostly convenience stores in Mercer and Union counties in New Jersey and in Bucks County, PA in May and June of 2019, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Lopez "entered the businesses, brandished a handgun, and demanded money from the sto…
Trenton Officers Arrested In Motel Incident: Report Trenton Officers Arrested In Motel Incident: Report
Trenton Officers Arrested In Motel Incident: Report A Mercer County sheriff’s officer and a Trenton detective were charged with assault after a physical altercation at a motel in Burlington County, NJ.com reports. A Pennsylvania man was also charged with simple assault following the Saturday, Aug. 20 fight at the Route 206 Best Western motel in Bordentown Township, the outlet reports citing police. Sheriff’s Officer Matt Sickler, 35, was checking in with Trenton detective Tara Dzurkoc, 45, when he reportedly started fighting with a 60-year-old Langhorne man. As a female hotel employee tried to break up the scuffle, Dzurkoc kicked her and yan…
Trenton Officer Threatened Pair During Incident At Public School: Authorities Trenton Officer Threatened Pair During Incident At Public School: Authorities
Trenton Officer Threatened Pair During Incident At Public School: Authorities A Trenton police officer has been suspended from the force after being charged with harassment for an incident at a public school in Hamilton, NJ Advance Media says citing the prosecutor's office. Rudy Lopez, 36, was issued a summons Friday, June 24. He apparently threatened two people at Lalor Elementary the morning of Wednesday, June 15, the outlet says citing authorities. Details were not released. Click here for more from NJ Advance Media.
Thousands In Cocaine Thrown Off 8th Floor Of Apartment In NJ Bust Involving PA Shooting Suspect Thousands In Cocaine Thrown Off 8th Floor Of Apartment In NJ Bust Involving PA Shooting Suspect
Thousands In Cocaine Thrown Off 8th Floor Of Apartment In NJ Bust Involving PA Shooting Suspect Thousands of dollars' worth of cocaine and guns were thrown from the eighth floor of a New Jersey apartment before it was recovered from the streets below during a drug investigation, leading to a slew of charges for two of the residents involved, including a PA shooting suspect using an alias, authorities said. A month-long investigation into the distribution of cocaine led detectives to the 600 block of West State Street in Trenton, where surveillance officers saw Jose Borges-Navarro open an eighth-floor window and throw two duffle bags out around 7:15 p.m. on Monday, June 13, Mercer Coun…
Trenton Man Ran Over, Killed GF In North Jersey: Prosecutor Trenton Man Ran Over, Killed GF In North Jersey: Prosecutor
Trenton Man Ran Over, Killed GF In North Jersey: Prosecutor A Trenton man was arrested for running over his girlfriend, killing her, last month in Union County, authorities said. Daaim J. Boykins, 40, is charged with first-degree murder a weapons offense in connection with the death of Schwnaire Jones, 36 of Willingboro, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Hillside Police Chief Vincent Ricciardi said. Hillside police responded to 41 King St., where Jones was found suffering critical injuries laying on the sidewalk around 9:30 p.m. Dec. 5, Ricciardi and Daniel said. She was subsequently pronounced dead, according to Union County Assis…
Alleged Getaway Driver In Shooting Death Of 16-Year-Old Trenton Boy Indicted Alleged Getaway Driver In Shooting Death Of 16-Year-Old Trenton Boy Indicted
Alleged Getaway Driver In Shooting Death Of 16-Year-Old Trenton Boy Indicted UPDATE: The accused getaway driver in the cold-blooded shooting death this summer of a 16-year-old Trenton boy and wounding of another has been indicted by a local grand jury. Keith N. Jordan, 30, is charged with first-degree counts of murder and attempted murders, as well as aggravated assault and weapons offenses, among other charges, for his role in the killing. An as-yet unidentified gunman shot Dione Ellis in the head in the the area of Prospect Street and Stuyvesant Avenue at 12:45 a.m. July 5, the nine-count indictment alleges. The youngster died at the scene, it says. A second…
Grand Jury: Trenton PD Had To Shoot To Stop Man Pointing Gun Grand Jury: Trenton PD Had To Shoot To Stop Man Pointing Gun
Grand Jury: Trenton PD Had To Shoot To Stop Man Pointing Gun Trenton police were justified in shooting a man who pointed an airsoft gun at them, a grand jury has found. Two separate 911 calls of a suicidal man threatening to harm himself came in to police on March 14, 2019, state Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said. The responding officers were joined by two others who’d been called to the same North Olden Avenue more than four hours earlier, he said. “If you come in here, I’ll shoot you,” Jason Williams, 42, told the officers, Bruck said. “Concerned for Mr. Williams’ safety, officers opened the door to check on him,” the attorney general…
Final Defendant In Trenton Police Car Firebombing Takes Guilty Plea In Federal Court Final Defendant In Trenton Police Car Firebombing Takes Guilty Plea In Federal Court
Final Defendant In Trenton Police Car Firebombing Takes Guilty Plea In Federal Court A Trenton man admitted in federal court on Wednesday that he threw a makeshift Molotov cocktail into a city police vehicle following a protest last year. Video captured by surveillance cameras and personal cellphones helped authorities identify Kadeem A. Dockery, 29, and one of his co-defendants, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said. Rather than face trial, Dockery accepted a deal from the government, pleading guilty Wednesday to attempting to obstruct, impede, or interfere with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder. He still faces state charges of throwing another firebom…
Rioter Cops To Torching Trenton Police Cruiser After George Floyd Protest Rioter Cops To Torching Trenton Police Cruiser After George Floyd Protest
Rioter Cops To Torching Trenton Police Cruiser After George Floyd Protest A South Jersey man admitted in federal court Tuesday that he tried to set fire to a police cruiser during a video-recorded riot that broke out following a peaceful protest last spring in Trenton. Killian F. Melecio, 20, of Columbus told a U.S. District Court Judge in Trenton via videoconference that he stuffed a shirt he’d gotten from another man into the gas tank of the vehicle and tried to ignite it last May 31. The protest earlier that day in response to the death of George Floyd had been peaceful, authorities said. Violence later erupted as a mob spread down East State Street, smashing …
High-Speed Pursuit From PA To NJ: DEA Agent Struck, Dealer Caught With 7,500 Folds, Feds Say High-Speed Pursuit From PA To NJ: DEA Agent Struck, Dealer Caught With 7,500 Folds, Feds Say
High-Speed Pursuit From PA To NJ: DEA Agent Struck, Dealer Caught With 7,500 Folds, Feds Say A fleeing drug dealer hit a DEA agent with his car and tossed a bag filled with 7,500 heroin folds out the window during what became a high-speed chase from Pennsylvania to Mercer County, authorities said. Law enforcement officers from various agencies followed ex-con Daevon Bell, 26, of Hamilton Township from Trenton to an apartment complex in Morrisville, PA, on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Bell retrieved a bag from his trunk and went into one of the apartments there, then emerged carrying another bag, Carpenito said. When members of the law enforcement posse approached h…
SEEN HER? Trenton Woman Missing For Weeks SEEN HER? Trenton Woman Missing For Weeks
Seen HER? Trenton Woman Missing For Weeks Authorities are seeking the public's help in locating a Trenton woman reported missing weeks ago. Deborah Brown, 67, was last seen leaving home on Sept. 1 around noon, New Jersey State Police said. She was wearing a black shirt, black leggings, pink toe-less crocks, and a black stocking cap on her head. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at 609-882-2000 ext. 2554 or the Trenton Police Department at 609-989-3836.