Marcus Jeter (pictured) was facing very serious charges and years behind bars after Bloomfield, N. J. police officers allegedly falsified charges against him. Thankfully, a dashcam video cleared Jeter of all of the alleged crimes, such as trying to elude police, resisting arrest and assaulting an officer, according toWABC-TV.
Jeter’s story began when police were called to the home he shares with his girlfriend. After speaking with the officers, no charges were filed and the policemen left the premises. Not long after the officers left Jeter’s residence, he hopped into his car and got on an expressway. As Jeter rode along the road, he suddenly spotted flashing lights behind him, so he pulled over. The officers emerged from their vehicles with weapons drawn and cautiously approached the 30-year-old man’s vehicle.
Jeter put his hands up as directed by the officers but did not immediately exit his car. The young man told ABC-TV’s Sarah Wallace in an exclusive interview that he did not get out of his car for fear of being shot. “There was a cop on my right with a gun, a cop on the other side with a shotgun…I’m afraid I might get shot,” Jeter said.
As soon as one officer opened Jeter’s car door, he reportedly struck him in the face and about the head repeatedly, as he was unfastening his seatbelt. Officers are also seen yelling at Jeter to stop resisting arrest, yet the young man is doing nothing at all. Jeter told Wallace, “All I keep saying is that I’m not doing anything.” The officers are then captured handcuffing Jeter and hitting him across his back.
As far as eluding the officers, Jeter pulled over as soon as he saw the flashing lights. Before the tape was produced, Jeter was facing five years in prison. The Bloomfield police department’s internal affairs division had “investigated” Jeter’s case before the tape was produced and had found no wrongdoing by the officers involved.
After the film was viewed, Jeter was cleared of all the alleged charges against him. The officers involved, however, are facing serious charges. Officer Orlando Trinidad, the most prominently featured policeman in the video, was charged with aggravated assault, falsifying reports, conspiracy and official misconduct; he has pleaded not guilty.
Police Officer Sean Cotter was charged with conspiracy, falsifying reports and official misconduct; he has also pleaded not guilty.
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