By: Yuritza Arroyo
A Mercer County Grand Jury has completed its investigative review of the February 12, 2022, use of force by a detective (“the Officer”) of the Trenton Police Department (“TPD”) and has concluded that the use of force was legally justified.
According to authorities, the investigation was conducted in accordance with the Attorney General’s Independent Prosecutor Directive (December 4, 2019, Directive Ensuring the Independent Investigation of Criminal Cases Involving Police Use-of-Force or In-Custody Deaths) (“Directive”).
Authorities say the incident occurred on Saturday, February 12, 2022, at approximately 12:10 a.m., in front of 557 Centre Street in the City of Trenton.
Four uniformed detectives assigned to the Trenton Police Street Crimes Unit were traveling in two-person units when they conducted an investigation involving Jajuan Henderson, who was sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle with the engine running.
According to Police, Henderson’s vehicle was parked in a high crime area near a house suspected for complaints of prostitution.
After observing Henderson’s response to police presence, the detectives approached to make an inquiry and obtain Henderson’s credentials.
Police say Henderson repeatedly refused to comply with the detectives’ requests; refused to put down his car window; refused to produce credentials; and was ultimately advised that he was under arrest for Obstruction.
After providing multiple warnings to Henderson, the detective broke the driver’s window to effectuate the arrest.
At that point, attempting to flee, Henderson accelerated forward at a high rate of speed, striking a parked car in front of him, as well as a police car parked on his front driver’s side.
According to officials, Henderson then immediately reversed at a high rate of speed toward the area where the detective was positioned and struck a car parked behind him.
Officials say the detective discharged four shots towards Henderson, stopping the threat and seriously injuring Henderson.
Initially, personnel from the New Jersey State Police and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office responded and investigated.
Due to a conflict between TPD and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Shooting Response Team investigated the incident.
According to authorities, the evidence collected included body-worn camera recordings, scene photographs, ballistics, and statements from the Officers. The statements were consistent with each other and with the physical evidence.
Authorities say this matter was presented to the Mercer County Grand Jury for review on March 17 and March 24. The grand jurors found that the detective’s actions were legally justified in accordance with the Use of Force in Self-Protection and/or the Use of Force for the Protection of Other Persons.
The statutes respectively state that “the use of force upon or toward another person is justifiable when the actor reasonably believes that such force is immediately necessary for protecting himself against the use of unlawful force by such other person on the present occasion” and when “the actor would be justified in using such force to protect himself, the actor reasonably believes that the person whom he seeks to protect would be justified in using such protective force, and the actor reasonably believes that his intervention is necessary for the protection of such other person.”
The Officer stated that he was in fear of his life and the lives of his colleagues when he decided to discharge his weapon.
The Officer believed that discharging his weapon was necessary to protect his life and the lives of his colleagues.
