South Jersey police officer suspended amid use-of-force probe
“We do not tolerate any behavior that violates the law and the trust of the public,” said Woodlynne's public safety director. The incident was captured on videos now circulating on social media.
A Woodlynne Borough police officer has been suspended without pay pending an investigation of complaints from the public — including a video — about his use of force, according to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office.
The officer’s identity could not be confirmed by The Inquirer.
A report by NJPen.com says Patrolman Ryan Dubiel, 31, pepper-sprayed a resident without provocation.
The Camden County Police Department issued a statement Friday saying it had responded to a request from the Woodlynne Police Department for assistance with a large fight around 4 p.m. Thursday.
“Our units arrived after an individual was already pepper sprayed and taken into custody,” the statement said. "One of our sergeants stood by with the individual as he was being treated by EMS personnel. Our officers left the scene after less than 10 minutes without any interaction with Woodlynne residents. Camden County Police officers were NOT involved in the arrest of any individuals and did not utilize force.”
Ed Figueroa, director of public safety in Woodlynne, a town of 2,900 residents, said that the incident occurred in the 200 block of Parker Avenue and that numerous videos of it were forwarded to its police department and posted on social media, prompted the borough to “immediately refer” it to the Prosecutor’s Office for review, following internal affairs protocols and guidelines.
The officer’s suspension is pending the outcome of the internal affairs investigation.
“We do not tolerate any behavior that violates the law and the trust of the public,” Figueroa said in a statement issued Friday night.
Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to send an email to spu@ccprosecutor.org or call 856-225-8400.