1 Year In Jail, No Trial: ‘Free Justin Rodwell,’ Newark Advocates Demand

NEWARK, NJ — It’s been a full year since Justin Rodwell was arrested and jailed along with his three brothers after being accused of assaulting a Newark police officer. Now – with Rodwell still imprisoned – his supporters continue to demand that he be released from the Essex County Correctional Facility while he stands trial alongside his siblings.

On Wednesday, the People’s Organization For Progress (POP) spearheaded a rally and march to demand “freedom for Justin Rodwell” and “justice for the Rodwell/Spivey brothers”: Branden Rodwell, Jaykil Rodwell and Jasper Spivey.

The four brothers were arrested in June 2021 during a controversial incident on Fabyan Place and Cypress Street. Read More: 'Mob Assault' Or 'False Narrative?' 4 Arrested In Newark

Police have claimed that the officers were "attacked" while trying to stop a man suspected of gun possession. But supporters of the brothers claim that they were victims of police harassment.

While three of them have since been released, one brother, Justin Rodwell, is still in custody – which their supporters have blasted in multiple protests and rallies in their name. Read More: Protest Held For Rodwell/Spivey Brothers In Newark: 'Free Justin'

Their protests continued Wednesday. Gathering outside the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Justice Complex in Newark, supporters marched several miles to the Essex County Correctional Facility, where Rodwell is being held.

“The POP objects to the detention of Justin Rodwell for an entire year without trial,” said Lawrence Hamm, a former U.S. Congress candidate and a founder of the POP.

“He was racially profiled, should not have been arrested and did not have to be detained,” Hamm added.

Hamm said that other members of the POP also believe the brothers were racially profiled and “unjustly arrested.” The group is calling for the charges against them to be dropped.

Rodwell and his brothers have also seen previous support from the local chapter of the NAACP, which released a statement about the case in February:

“According to Mr. Rodwell's attorney, she maintains 'that based on the video footage published by law enforcement and the corresponding police report, it appears that Justin was racially profiled and was unfairly subjected to unlawful and unwarranted aggression by the investigative officers who were wearing plain clothes, driving in an unmarked vehicle and did not identify themselves as police prior to accosting Mr. Rodwell.'"

NAACP Newark NJ President Deborah Smith Gregory said that Rodwell has been held at the Essex County Correctional Facility on third and fourth-degree charges since June 2021, and has not had a trial or granted bail.

"Why has he been sitting in jail during this deadly pandemic rather than being released under his own recognizance until his trial?" Gregory asked.

• See related article: Essex County Man Was Racially Profiled During Arrest, Advocates Say

Meanwhile, authorities have maintained that the case is moving along at a normal pace, and have denied the claims of racial profiling.

A spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office gave Patch the following reply in February when reached for comment about the case against Justin Rodwell:

“The case is moving through the system in the normal course. At this juncture there is no evidence to support the claim that this defendant was the target of racial profiling. We advocated for detention of this defendant based on the facts of the case. A Superior Court judge accepted our argument. The Appellate Division affirmed the judge's ruling. This defendant was indicted by a grand jury and we are ready to go to trial. However, the trial has been delayed because the defense has filed a motion to suppress evidence. We expect the defendant will remain in custody until trial unless a judge rules otherwise.”

The brothers’ next court date is scheduled for June 9 in Newark.

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