Newark, NJ — A photojournalist injured while covering a protest outside Newark’s Delaney Hall later discovered that roughly $10,000 worth of missing camera equipment had allegedly been taken by a veteran law enforcement officer, according to criminal charges announced Thursday by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
The case centers on Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Sgt. Darryl Brown, 43, of Sparta Township, who now faces a third-degree theft charge after investigators traced the journalist’s missing gear through an Apple AirTag attached to one of the items.
The allegations add a new layer of controversy to events surrounding the May 30 protest at Delaney Hall, where the journalist suffered an injury while reporting and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
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AirTag Tracking Sparked Investigation
According to the complaint, the journalist dropped a camera bag containing cameras and related equipment valued at an estimated $10,000 while working near the protest scene.
After receiving medical treatment, the journalist used an Apple AirTag tracking device attached to one of the missing items to locate the equipment. Investigators said the tracking data initially led to a residence in Sparta Township.
The AirTag itself was later recovered by a friend of the victim several miles from the location where it had first been tracked. However, investigators determined that the original destination linked to the tracking device was the home of Brown, who had been deployed to Delaney Hall in his official law enforcement capacity on the day the equipment disappeared.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the case reflects the state’s commitment to investigating allegations of misconduct involving law enforcement personnel.
“So many police officers conduct themselves with integrity, uphold the law, maintain order and public safety, and serve our communities with distinction in the face of great challenges, day in and day out,” Davenport said.
She added that when officers engage in the conduct alleged in the complaint, it damages both public trust and the profession itself.
Key Points
• Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Sgt. Darryl Brown faces a third-degree theft charge.
• Investigators said an Apple AirTag helped trace a journalist’s missing camera equipment.
• Several reported stolen items were recovered during a search of Brown’s home.
Body Camera Footage and Search Warrant
Investigators from the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability’s Corruption Bureau examined evidence gathered after the journalist reported the missing equipment.
According to the complaint, Brown’s body-worn camera footage from May 30 allegedly shows him interacting with a dark-colored bag matching the description of the journalist’s belongings.
That evidence became part of a broader investigation that ultimately led authorities to seek a search warrant.
On Wednesday, June 3, investigators executed a court-authorized search of Brown’s residence. According to the Attorney General’s Office, several items reported missing by the journalist were recovered during the search.
Authorities said some of the recovered equipment still contained labels displaying the victim’s name and phone number.
The recovery of those items became a key piece of evidence supporting the criminal charge announced Thursday.
Prosecutor’s Office Sergeant Suspended
The allegations prompted an immediate personnel response from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
“The allegations against Sergeant Brown are serious and concerning. He has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office,” Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II said in a statement.
Stephens said conduct that undermines public confidence in law enforcement cannot be tolerated and emphasized the office’s commitment to accountability and integrity.
The case also highlights the growing role of consumer technology in criminal investigations. Apple AirTags, originally designed to help users locate personal belongings, have increasingly become sources of evidence in theft investigations by providing location histories that can help establish where property traveled after it disappeared.
In this instance, investigators allege the tracking device helped connect the missing equipment to Brown’s residence after the journalist left the protest area for medical treatment.
Potential Penalties
Third-degree theft charges in New Jersey carry a potential prison sentence of three to five years if a defendant is convicted. The offense also carries a maximum fine of up to $15,000.
The criminal complaint announced Thursday represents the latest development in an investigation handled by the Attorney General’s Office and its Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, which investigates allegations of corruption and misconduct involving public officials and law enforcement personnel.
The charges stem specifically from the alleged disappearance of the journalist’s camera bag and equipment following the May 30 protest outside Delaney Hall.
Brown has been charged by complaint summons. As with all criminal defendants, he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The investigation remains active, and Brown remains suspended without pay while the criminal case proceeds through New Jersey’s court system.