Brandon Crosby (2021)

From LEO Ratings
 
leoratings.com is celebrating our 3rd full year of researching incidents involving law enforcement officers in the U.S. In the last year, we've added 336 incidents, 255 officers, 95 agencies, and 2 states. Please help us by following, liking, commenting, retweeting/sharing, and telling a friend to spread the word!
Facebook logoTwitter logoReddit logo

Overview

On May 26, 2021, Paterson New Jersey Police Department Officer Spencer Finch responded to a domestic dispute, and found Crosby arguing with the mother of his children, who was inside an apartment.

Finch did not activate his body-worn camera due to a perceived fear of "imminent harm... if the defendant gained entry to the apartment".[1]

Finch claimed he was punched and kicked by Crosby.[1]

The incident was captured on another officer's body-worn camera and a surveillance camera.[2]

The body camera video shows Finch advance on Crosby before hitting him with "an overhead, open palmed strike to the face."[1] Finch hit Crosby multiple times with a flashlight. While Crosby was handcuffed, Finch used his knee to hit him in the face area.[3]

On June 10, 2021, Finch was suspended without pay. Under the police union contract, Finch would resume collecting his pay after 30 days and then go on administrative leave.[4]

On June 11, 2021, Finch was arrested and charged with official misconduct, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and tampering with public records.[5] The unauthorized weapon was a larger 'C' or 'D'-cell flashlight, which are not allowed by the department.[1]

On June 23, 2021, city officials released the body-worn camera footage.[3]

On June 30, 2021, city officials announced the filing of termination papers against Finch.[4]

Finch rejected a plea deal from prosecutors.[2]

On December 21, 2023, a jury acquitted Finch.[2]

Video

Body-worn camera footage

Officers Involved


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Joe Malinconico, Body camera footage produced evidence that led to Paterson cop’s excessive force arrest, North Jersey, 2021-06-14
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Joe Malinconico, Jury acquits fired Paterson cop Spencer Finch; lawyer calls him a 'hero', Paterson Press, 2023-12-21
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Joe Malinconico, Body camera video shows alleged assault that led to Paterson cop's arrest, North Jersey, 2021-06-23
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Joe Malinconico, Paterson will try to fire cop accused of assault in incident captured by bodycam video, North Jersey, 2021-06-30
  5. ↑ Joe Malinconico, Paterson cop arrested on misconduct, assault charges, North Jersey, 2021-06-11

Recent articles: Joshua Nahulu, Shevoy Brown, Thomas Mascia, Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas (2019), Gerald Goines

To check for incidents in your area, please use the search page or try a random incident.