Sterling Wheaten, Assault and Civil Rights Violation, New Jersey 2013

CAMDEN, N.J. - A federal grand jury has indicted an Atlantic City police officer for multiple offenses arising from an assault outside the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in June 2013.

Sterling Wheaten, 34, of Mays Landing, New Jersey, was charged with one count of violating an individual's civil rights and one count of falsifying a record for submitting a false police report about the assault.

Wheaten made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider in Camden federal court and was released on $50,000 unsecured bond.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Wheaten was working in his official capacity as an Atlantic City Police Department officer with his K-9 partner on June 15, 2013.

The indictment alleges that Wheaten and other officers delivered knee strikes to the victim's shoulder and back, punches to the victim's back, and baton strikes to the victim's back and legs.

Wheaten also released his K-9 dog on the victim without issuing a warning, causing the dog to bite the victim in the chest and neck.

The victim was taken to AtlanticCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City in police custody, where he was treated for dog bites to his head, neck, and chest.

Wheaten and other officers returned to the police station to prepare their reports, which were later found to be false.

Wheaten's actions were part of a larger incident in which Wheaten and other officers used excessive force against the victim, resulting in serious injuries.

The indictment highlights the need for police officers to use proportional force and respect the civil rights of individuals, even in situations where they are resisting arrest.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/atlantic-city-police-officer-charged-civil-rights-and-other-offenses