NEWARK, N.J. – Three Passaic County correctional officers were arrested for allegedly violating a pretrial detainee’s civil rights and conspiring to obstruct justice, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Sergeants Jose Gonzalez, 45, Donald Vinales, 38, and Officer Lorenzo Bowden, 39, face charges of deprivation of rights under color of law and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Bowden is additionally charged with making false statements.
The incident, dated January 22, 2021, involved the officers assaulting a detainee in a surveillance-free area of the Passaic County Jail. The detainee, who had splashed a urine mixture on a correctional officer, was handcuffed during the assault and sustained injuries requiring hospitalization.
Despite the requirement to report their use of force, none of the defendants submitted any reports. In April 2022, following federal grand jury subpoenas, the officers, among others, agreed not to cooperate with the federal investigation and denied the assault during an October 2022 interview with federal investigators.
The charges bring serious penalties, with deprivation of rights under color of law carrying a maximum of 10 years in prison, conspiracy to obstruct justice up to 20 years, and making false statements up to five years. The officers are scheduled for their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court.