Trenton – police officers “depreciated life of another black man” when last month shot and injured residents of Berlinington City, who sat in the car, said in a statement published by the Conference of New Jersey NAACP and law firm Mount Lavre.
The statement said a lawsuit would be filed on Thursday on behalf of Jajuan R. Henderson, who was partially paralyzed by the February 12 shooting.
Trenton City, Police Department Director Steve Wilson and several unknown police officers are expected to be named.
In response to the statement, a city spokesman said Trenton “has fully complied with the Attorney General’s request to consider the February 12 incident and is awaiting conclusions.”
“The city has no comment on the pending lawsuits,” said spokesman Timothy Carroll.
A NAACP statement described the incident, which differed sharply from a police account.
According to the NAACP, the 29-year-old Henderson approached a parked car to get iced tea, and was sitting alone in a car shortly after midnight when “an unidentified dark car approached and parked next to him, driving him into a box.”
“A group of men in masks and dark civilians jumped out of this mysterious car and started shouting at Jajuan,” the statement said.
It says Henderson used his cell phone to call for support, “as many others would have done in this escalating situation.”
The account states that the people near Henderson’s car, who appeared “like any other group of dangerous criminals from the horror movie, turned out to be from the Trenton Police Department.”
“A black man sitting in a car at midnight talking on a mobile phone is all that the unknown officers had to break the driver’s glass,” the account said. “Despite the fact that these officers were unarmed, non-threatening and engaged in their own affairs, these officers used deadly force and shot Jajuan in the neck.
As a result of the “unnecessary” shooting, Henderson was paralyzed from the chest down, the statement said.
“It’s a miracle that Jajuan survived, and he will have a long way to go if he recovers from the actions of the Trenton Police Department,” the statement said, describing the incident as “another unnecessary police shooting.”
It says the lawsuit, which will be filed by law firm Zeff of Mount Laurel, will require “fairness, change and transparency.”
On the contrary, a police account says the shooting happened after four Trenton street crime detectives stopped Henderson’s car in the 500th quarter of Center Street.
A police account contained in a statement giving probable grounds for the indictment against Henderson said a Lawrence Street resident was unable to provide ID, driver’s license, registration or vehicle insurance confirmation, and that he refused to completely lower the driver’s glass. .
It alleges that Henderson refused to leave his car after he was told he would be arrested and that he continued through the car, “including under the seats.”
A statement about the probable cause, citing images of the officer’s worn-out camera, said that one detective “immediately ordered Henderson to” stop stretching “under the back seat,” and another detective smashed the driver’s glass trying to arrest him.
“Henderson started the car, put it behind the wheel and tried to flee the scene,” the statement said. It says Henderson shot down two vehicles, “while officers remained in close proximity.”
Police said Henderson “eventually received four gunshot wounds during the investigation.”
A statement on the probable cause of Henderson’s four charges of assault under aggravating circumstances, “attempting to cause serious bodily harm” to employees standing near the car.
He is also charged with some charges of resisting detention and obstruction.
The charges are just charges, Henderson has not been convicted in the case.
Mercer County Attorney’s Office said one detective shot Henderson, but all four officers were placed on administrative leave after the incident.
The officers who were not injured are identified only by their initials.
This story can be updated.
Jim Walsh covers state security, economic development and other articles for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.
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