WOODLYNNE, NJ -In conformity with the tenants of the Excellence In Policing Initiative set forth by the Office of the Attorney General, and our commitment to transparency, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office is releasing the body worn camera footage and 911 call from a June 4 incident in Woodlynne.
The camera, worn by Officer Ryan Dubiel, 31, of Wenonah, begins as officers from the Woodlynne Police Department are dispatched to the 200 block of Parker Ave in response to a citizen’s complaint. During the incident, Dubiel used Oleoresin Capsicum spray, or OC spray, against several individuals he encountered while investigating the complaint.
On June 4, at 1:30 p.m., video footage showed that at the time of the OC spray deployment, the individuals were not observed physically resisting or attempting to harm others or themselves. Officer Dubiel’s body worn camera footage will be made available on June 11 to allow time for the required redaction of juvenile participants.
On June 5, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office received an Internal Affairs Complaint against Dubiel. After a thorough investigation by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability Dubiel was charged with two counts of simple assault.
Dubiel, 31, of Wenonah, was charged on June 10, with two counts of simple assault.
“Our Special Prosecutions Unit received the Internal Affairs complaint against Dubiel on June 5 and immediately began collecting all of the evidence to conduct a thorough and impartial review of the complaint,” said Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer. “After careful review, it was clear Dubiel’s actions are not consistent with the State of New Jersey use-of-force policy.”
Officer Dubiel has been with the Woodlynne Police Department for 10 months. This is the ninth police department where he has served. Dubiel is currently suspended without pay.
“I commend Acting Prosecutor Mayer for acting swiftly to hold this police officer accountable for the appalling and completely unjustified use of force alleged in these criminal charges,” said Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal. “This officer, who has worked for nine different police departments, is a strong example of why we need a statewide licensing program for police officers— a proposal that I initiated and that I will strongly support when it is presented later this month to the Police Training Commission. Just as we license doctors, nurses, and lawyers, we must ensure that all officers meet baseline standards of professionalism, and that officers who fail to meet those standards cannot be passed from one police department t
It was Dubiel’s use of OC spray against two of those individuals that led to the charges being filed against him. Under the current Use of Force protocols, a police officer is permitted to use force when a subject refuses to comply with an officer’s commands at the time of arrest, or when the subject threatens the officer’s safety.
Dubiel is currently suspended from the department without pay.