The Case for former Newark Police Officer Jovanny Crespo: When Justice Takes a Wrong Turn
This isn’t just about one officer—it’s about what happens when politics, policy, and the media distort the truth in high-risk policing.
This case was brought to my attention by a trusted friend who wanted to get me on board with promoting an effort to get an appeal for former Newark (N.J.) Officer Jovanny Crespo. At first blush, I didn’t like what I saw. This wound up being a pursuit with three incidents of an officer exiting the chase vehicle and firing on the fleeing vehicle. I watched the pursuit, multiple times, from beginning to end, and it ends tragically, with two suspects shot in the head, one suspect dead, a loaded crime gun recovered, and heroin seized from the suspect vehicle. On thing was certain. This story deserved a fair retelling, beginning from the very beginning.
The Traffic Stop and Pursuit
On January 28, 2019, after 11 p.m., Newark Police Officer Valerie Sanchez conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by the driver Gregory Griffin and his passenger Andrew Dixon. Sanchez observes a gun under the leg of Griffin and gives both occupants commands to show their hands nine times. Meanwhile, Griffin continues to make furtive movements to retrieve the gun under his leg while being held at gunpoint by Sanchez. Griffin decides to flee and takes off in what appears to be a Chrysler 300 sedan with tinted windows. Sanchez advises immediately via radio that the vehicle has just fled from her.
Crespo is in the passenger seat in a two-man marked patrol vehicle and he and his partner locate the vehicle. The first attempt to corner the vehicle fails but on the second attempt, with Crespo out of the patrol vehicle, the suspect vehicle passes them on the left. Shots are fired by Crespo when the passenger side of the vehicle is in view. Despite tint, on body worn camera (BWC) you can see through the front passenger window. Crespo jumps back in the police car and advises on the radio that shots were fired. At the third attempt, the suspect vehicle is on the right side of the marked patrol vehicle and Crespo exits the cruiser and has a view through the windshield and the left-side driver window and fires twice more. Only seconds pass, before Crespo is out of the vehicle again, the suspect vehicle has stopped with passenger door is ajar, and Crespo fires two more shots into the vehicle from the passenger side. The passenger is conscious and breathing but obviously wounded. The driver, who appears to have died from their injuries, is motionless in the suspect vehicle.
The evolution of shooting into vehicles
More than a decade ago, the impound lot contractor would donate a vehicle for training. The fuel tank and battery would be removed, probably among a series of other precautions, and the vehicle would be towed to the firing range for training. At the completion, there was a two-foot diameter void where the driver side windshield, cowl, roof, and steering wheel used to exist. Back then, if a driver tried to run over an officer, Attempted Murder on a Law Enforcement Officer, it pulled one of the few levers to justify a vehicle pursuit. When the policy was changed to exclude that, including training where to safely stand to avoid getting run over, it was amazing the reduction in criminals trying to run over officers.
National police organizations forwarded model policies featuring an abolition on shooting into moving vehicles. While I rarely agree with them, I did recognize the merits of avoiding making a dangerous situation worse. But banning shooting into vehicles only sounds like a great idea. It endangers officers who need to know what to do at the most stressful moment of their career. We are seeing this in many ways, from banned physical restraints in New York City and Minneapolis, to de-escalation processes that unnecessarily endanger officers. I favor restrictive pursuit policies, but not their abolition. Have a good reason for the chase.
The conviction
At some point, I almost forgot what everyone on the jury who convicted him clearly forgot. The lynchpin of their case, on the laws that he supposedly broke, were dependent on the guidance and direction of the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey. This state attorney general never fails to provide relevant content on the topic of policing. Two years ago, the attorney general suspended the entire Paterson Police Department. Shortly thereafter, the acting state comptroller, in tandem with the AG’s office, produced a deceptive report maligning the excellent private police training organization, Street Cop Training, pushing them toward bankruptcy for their own corrupt political purposes. Conservative commentator Tomi Lahren was a featured speaker at their Atlantic City six-day event, which put the bullseye on the training company for instructing supposed civil rights violations. Having Eric Holder as a keynote would have completely protected them being targeted by government forces.
The question was never whether we agree with Crespo’s tactics, it was whether he was responding to a threat or not. If he was legitimately addressing a firearm, in a fleeing suspect’s car, being pointed at him, then there is no issue. In fact, he would even be fully covered by the AG’s directive on shooting into vehicles. In a criminal trial, he cannot be convicted of not following the AG’s policy, but he can only be convicted of the crimes he has been charged with, but if his testimony is truthful which was supported by the discovery of a loaded gun in the suspect vehicle, then his actions are not crimes.
The Acting District Attorney of Essex County, Theodore Stephens, even brought the ridiculous charge of possession of a firearm on Officer Crespo along with the manslaughter charges. We have Crespo’s spontaneous statement captured on BWC that the passenger pointed a firearm at him. At that moment, Crespo cannot know that there was only one firearm in the vehicle.
The criminals
Following the incident, we hear very little from the family of Gregory Griffin or from Andrew Dixon. New Jersey is proud of its gun laws which are very restrictive in nature. If you get permission to purchase a handgun, you can only purchase one within a thirty-day period. Semi-automatic weapons with magazines are restricted to a ten-round capacity. You need the state’s permission to purchase a firearm, even in a private transaction, and then you need to attempt to get a concealed carry permit. Open carry for private citizens is illegal. Griffin is known to have a criminal history involving drugs, an obvious disqualifier for legal firearm ownership in New Jersey.
The circumstances that began with Officer Sanchez’s traffic stop drift into a narrative that the occupants of the suspect vehicle were the victims in this encounter. Fleeing a traffic stop, armed, and holding dope, while leading the police in a high-speed pursuit is extremely risky behavior. If the criminals were to seek advice from any wise person in their circle of friends, none would suggest that choosing the option of fleeing the police will have a beneficial outcome. In fact, most would propose the opposite would be the most likely.
Every moment from the time the pursuit began, the criminals had the option to end it peacefully. The only fear they were running away from was being held accountable and criminally charged. Crespo and every Newark officer involved were responding and reacting to Griffin and Dixon’s disregard of public safety and the rule of law. The chaos that followed was the direct result of their contempt for the law, not the actions of the officers sworn to uphold it.
Supporting an appeal is not letting Crespo off the hook. It is not realistic to hope that after he receives fair treatment through appeal and his convictions are overturned, that he would be suitable to return to law enforcement. He does deserve to have what was taken from him restored as best possible and be granted a future to raise his children in grace and peace.
Please keep all our law enforcement officers in your prayers.
Roland Clee served a major Florida police department as a Community Service Officer for more than 26 years. His career included uniformed patrol, training, media relations, intelligence, criminal investigations, and chief’s staff. He writes the American Peace Officer newsletter, speaks at public safety, recruiting and leadership conferences and helps local governments and public safety agencies through his business, CommandStaffConsulting.com. For news media interviews and podcast appearances, click here: http://bit.ly/40pT3NS
References:
https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-jovanny-crespo?recruiter=1165431275&recruited_by_id=8d311b00-2d3e-11eb-b8f4-f76d1fa6f181&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=psf_promote_or_share&utm_term=take_next_step&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=fht-36809721-en-us%3Acv_20877
https://www.newarknj.gov/news/mayor-baraka-statement-on-indictment-of-newark-police-officer
I’m the mother of Jovanny Crespo. No one can imagine where our family is going through. It’s been so hard., there’s no justice in Newark New Jersey, the criminal gets away with murder. My son is doing 27 years in jail never been in trouble a day in his life., while working as a police officer in Newark, he received many recommendations and rewards, my son’s been a coach since he was 12 years old he loved helping in the community feeding the homeless dressing the homeless counseling kids coaching kids, hope to assess pastors in our church, has four children ages between 19 and 12, I’m just praying that my son gets out soon and clemency or appeal, I’m terminally ill This has taking a toll in my health or family life I need the support our our community..
I want to say something about my nephew Crespo. To me he will always be a man who tried to serve his community and do the right thing. Being a police officer isn’t easy, and I know the heart he carried while wearing that badge. No matter what happens in life, family stands together. I will always be proud to be his aunt and I will always keep him in my prayers. Stay strong nephew, you are loved more than you know