Judge Decries “Shoot First, Ask Questions Later” Mentality
A former New Jersey police officer has received a harsh sentence for his role in a fatal car chase that occurred in Newark in January 2019. Jovanny Crespo, 31, was sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison by Superior Court Judge Michael Ravin.
Lengthy Sentence Reflects Severity of Crime
Judge Ravin imposed a 20-year sentence for aggravated manslaughter and a consecutive 7-year sentence for aggravated assault stemming from the shooting. Additionally, Crespo received a six-year term for official misconduct, which will run concurrently with his other sentences. These combined sentences make him ineligible for parole for over 22 years.
Dashcam Footage Paints a Clear Picture
Evidence presented during the trial included video footage from Crespo’s patrol car and body camera. This footage showed Crespo exiting his vehicle and firing three shots during the high-speed pursuit.
Prosecutors argued that state guidelines only permit the use of deadly force when an officer or another person faces “imminent danger” of death or serious injury.
Defense and Prosecution at Odds on Training
Crespo’s defense team argued for leniency, citing his inexperience with less than two years on the force and inadequate training. The defense also claimed that Crespo’s superiors should have halted the chase.
However, prosecutors countered that Crespo received over six months of training at the police academy, including instruction on the proper use of deadly force.
Judge Rejects Defense Arguments
Judge Ravin sided with the prosecution, rejecting claims of inadequate training. He characterized Crespo as well-trained and emphasized that the five-minute chase ultimately resulted in the death of the driver, 46-year-old Gregory Griffin, and critically wounded his passenger. This tragic outcome, according to Ravin, constituted an “abhorrent abuse of police power.”
