Three Ewing Township police officers — Michael Delahanty, 51, of Robbinsville; Matthew Przemieniecki, 43, of Hamilton; and Justin Ubry, 33, of Burlington — are facing federal charges for stomping a teenage suspect’s head into snow during a violent 2018 arrest. The DOJ unsealed a two-count indictment accusing the officers of violating the minor’s civil rights under color of law, marking a rare federal crackdown on excessive force.
The beating unfolded at 8:15 a.m. on January 5, 2018, when more than a dozen officers converged on a stolen, crashed vehicle. The driver — a juvenile — fled and was found hiding in a shed. Police dragged him out and forced him face-down onto snow-covered ground. Delahanty used his boot to press the boy’s head into the snow. Przemieniecki and Ubry followed, kicking snow directly into the victim’s face. Przemieniecki then stepped on the minor’s head a second time. The boy never resisted.
Delahanty and Przemieniecki are charged in Count One with felony deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury — a charge carrying up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Ubry is charged in Count Two with a misdemeanor version of the same offense, facing a maximum of one year behind bars and a $100,000 fine. All three surrendered this morning and are scheduled for a video hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni.
The FBI Trenton Resident Agency led the investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha K. Nye and Senior Civil Rights Counsel R. Joseph Gribko are prosecuting. The case is part of a broader federal-state Civil Rights Criminal Enforcement Initiative, launched jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office to target abuse by law enforcement.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig made the announcement, emphasizing that the charges reflect a zero-tolerance approach to constitutional violations. “Law enforcement officers who betray their oath and use unjustified force will be held accountable,” she said. “This was not policing — it was brutality.”
The indictment makes clear: the force used was “unreasonable and excessive” under the circumstances. While the defendants maintain their presumption of innocence, the graphic details expose a pattern of humiliation and violence. The case now heads to court, where the badge won’t shield them from judgment.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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