Mercer Times

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) have announced that a state grand jury has indicted six correctional police officers for their alleged involvement in the assault of an inmate at the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility in Chesterfield, New Jersey. The incident occurred on April 8, 2020, and involved the use of pepper spray and forceful removal of an inmate from his cell.

The indictment includes seven counts against the defendants, comprising a sergeant and five senior corrections officers. They are accused of filing false reports to cover up the incident. Attorney General Platkin stated, "New Jersey correctional officers work under trying circumstances and do essential work in the criminal justice system and in maintaining public safety. The alleged conduct of the officers indicted in this case does a discredit to every correctional officer who performs their duties with integrity."

Drew Skinner, OPIA Executive Director, added, "As alleged, the defendants filed false reports to cover up an assault of an inmate by a correctional officer. These charges demonstrate that those who abuse individuals under the protection of the State and those who cover up such abuse will face serious consequences."

The investigation was conducted by OPIA’s Corruption Bureau along with DOC’s Special Investigations Division (SID). The defendants charged are Sgt. Michael Emmert, Senior Corrections Officers Christopher Toth, Mark Sadlowski Jr., Raymond Quinones, Michael Gaines, and Michael Ambrozaitis.

Court documents reveal that during a forced cell extraction on April 8, 2020, Sgt. Emmert allegedly used pepper spray on the victim without giving him an order or opportunity to comply peacefully. Despite offering his hands to be handcuffed, further force was used when Emmert sprayed again before entering the cell with other officers.

Reports were allegedly falsified by stating that orders were given for compliance which did not occur according to allegations made in court filings. Officer Toth faces additional charges for not intervening or reporting excessive force used by Emmert.

All six defendants face charges including official misconduct (2nd degree), tampering with public records (3rd degree), falsifying or tampering with records (4th degree), while Emmert and Toth also face aggravated assault charges (3rd degree).

If convicted on second-degree charges they could receive sentences ranging from five to ten years imprisonment along with fines reaching $150,000; third-degree offenses may lead up three-to-five-year terms plus $15k fines; fourth-degree violations might result in up-to-18-month sentences coupled alongside $10k penalties.

The prosecution is led by Deputy Attorney General Adam Gerken under supervision from various officials within both Corruption Bureau & OPIA management teams including Deputy Chief Frank Valdinoto among others listed earlier above this section detailing legal representation available respective each defendant noted herein below:

Defense counsel for each defendant includes Vincent Campo representing Emmert; Chris St John handling Toth's defense matters respectively followed next linewise thereafter featuring Les Hartman assisting Quinones’ case proceedings legally speaking thusly forward onto Robert Perry assigned towards Gaines’ judicial affairs further down listing ends finally concluding upon Stu Alterman aiding Sadlowski lastly Mark W Catanzaro defending Ambrozaitis duly appointed thereto per relevant court actions undertaken moving forward accordingly yet presumption innocence remains intact until proven otherwise beyond reasonable doubt standard applies throughout entire process necessarily so indeed ultimately thereby as mandated under applicable law governing same therein subject matter jurisdiction concerned overall.