TRENTON, N.J. — Six correctional officers from the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility in Burlington County face criminal charges following an alleged assault on an inmate and subsequent attempts to cover up the incident, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced Wednesday. A state grand jury has returned a seven-count indictment against the officers, stemming from the April 8, 2020, incident in Chesterfield, New Jersey.
The defendants, identified as Sgt. Michael Emmert, 40, of Toms River, and Senior Corrections Officers Christopher Toth, 40; Mark Sadlowski, Jr., 46; Raymond Quinones, 50; Michael Gaines, 58; and Michael Ambrozaitis, 60, are accused of forcibly removing an inmate from a cell without following department protocols. The indictment alleges that Emmert deployed pepper spray on the inmate twice, without giving the inmate a chance to comply with orders, despite the inmate showing willingness to be handcuffed.
“New Jersey correctional officers work under trying circumstances and do essential work in the criminal justice system and in maintaining public safety,” Attorney General Platkin said. “The alleged conduct of the officers indicted in this case does a discredit to every correctional officer who performs their duties with integrity.”
The charges follow an investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) and the Department of Corrections’ (DOC) Special Investigations Division. OPIA Executive Director Drew Skinner emphasized the severity of the allegations, stating, “These charges demonstrate that those who abuse individuals under the protection of the State and those who cover up such abuse will face serious consequences.”
According to the indictment, the officers involved failed to provide the inmate with clear, loud instructions or an opportunity to exit the cell voluntarily, as mandated by DOC policy. Instead, Emmert allegedly sprayed the inmate with pepper spray upon initial entry and again shortly after, without warning, before a five-person team entered the cell and used force to extract the inmate. The inmate reportedly cried out in pain and later required medical treatment, including oxygen and an inhaler.
The indictment also accuses the officers of falsifying official reports to justify their actions, claiming the inmate was ordered to comply and was non-compliant prior to the use of force. Toth faces an additional charge for allegedly failing to intervene when witnessing the excessive force.
Each of the six officers has been charged with second-degree official misconduct, third-degree tampering with public records, and fourth-degree falsifying records. Emmert and Toth face an additional charge of third-degree aggravated assault.
The defendants were initially charged by complaint-summons in May 2022, but now face formal indictments that could lead to significant penalties if convicted.