Newark Launches Its Own Probe Into Police Shooting After Jury Decision

NEWARK, NJ — The City of Newark has launched its own investigation into a police shooting that claimed the life of an unarmed man two years ago, officials announced Friday.

Earlier this week, a state grand jury declined to file criminal charges against the police officer who shot and killed Carl Dorsey III, 39, of South Orange, just after midnight on Jan. 1 in 2021.

After hearing the testimony and evidence, the grand jury concluded its deliberations on Tuesday and voted “no bill,” meaning that the jury concluded no criminal charges should be filed against Detective Rod Simpkins of the Newark Police Department. Read More: No Criminal Charges For Newark Cop Who Shot Unarmed NJ Man, Jury Rules

However, Newark will be taking up its own probe into the shooting now that the state’s own process has run its course, Mayor Rase Baraka said.

According to the mayor:

“A grand jury voted yesterday not to file any criminal charges after deliberations regarding the Newark police-involved shooting that killed Carl Dorsey III after midnight on January 1, 2021. Any time an unarmed person is killed, it’s a tragedy and painful for the victim’s family and his or her entire community. It is deeply troubling that more black and brown people find themselves in this situation across the country, as we have recently seen in Memphis. It’s appalling that someone who is unarmed can be killed in the street and we are working hard to make sure this doesn’t happen again in the City of Newark.”

Baraka continued:

“Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin’s investigation has been completed and we are grateful for the community’s effort that helped to create an independent process that reviews all police involved shootings. Now, the City of Newark will conduct our own investigation to ensure that our officers in this incident followed procedures properly and did not violate regulations. We will move swiftly and decisively to launch this investigation, as we could not do so until the state process had run its course. The officer under this investigation is no longer on active duty.”

“Finally, on behalf of the people of Newark, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Mr. Dorsey’s family for their loss,” Baraka concluded. “This tragedy will not be forgotten.”

Prosecutors released the following statement about the shooting:

“Based on the investigation, the shooting occurred shortly after midnight on South 11th Street near Woodland Avenue in Newark. A group of 12 plainclothes detectives assigned to the Newark Police Department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit, who were on patrol detail for New Year’s Eve, responded in separate unmarked police vehicles to South 11th Street from Avon Avenue after hearing gunshots in that area. Detective Simpkins was the rear seat passenger of the lead police vehicle as they turned onto South 11th Street. According to the detectives, as they approached in their vehicles, some of them observed muzzle flashes and individuals discharging and holding handguns. Detective Simpkins immediately exited his vehicle with his service weapon drawn. According to Detective Simpkins, his focus was on two individuals with guns located north of him with whom he was about to engage. Detective Simpkins was physically struck from the side by an individual, later identified as Carl Dorsey, which caused Simpkins to fall to the ground. As Det. Simpkins was falling to the ground, his service weapon discharged once, striking Mr. Dorsey, who was not armed with a weapon.”

Prosecutors continued:

“None of the detectives were equipped with body-worn cameras at the time of the incident. However, home surveillance footage captured Mr. Dorsey running across the street from the west side to the east side and colliding with Detective Simpkins just after Simpkins exited his vehicle. Detectives rendered medical aid to Mr. Dorsey until EMS personnel arrived. Mr. Dorsey was transported to University Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 1:37 a.m.”

Prosecutors added:

“Shortly after Mr. Dorsey was shot, an individual whom officers saw pointing a gun was apprehended after discarding the gun at the scene on South 11th Street. That individual was prosecuted and pleaded guilty to 4th degree pointing a firearm. A shell casing recovered from the scene matched the gun that was recovered near the person who was arrested.”

In the wake of the shooting, New Jersey Attorney General’s Office released video surveillance footage taken at the scene. The footage – which comes from a nearby security camera – shows a chaotic scene, with several people running in panic after apparently hearing a gunshot. It can be seen here.

An ensuing investigation of the shooting included interviews of witnesses, collection of forensic evidence, review of video and autopsy results from the medical examiner. After hearing the testimony and evidence, the grand jury concluded its deliberations on Tuesday and voted “no bill,” prosecutors said.

The grand jury’s decision comes more than two years after the shooting took place. Family members and advocates have been pushing officials for an update and demanding action on the case.

Last summer, Dorsey’s family filed a lawsuit against the officer who shot him, several other unnamed officers, the local police department and the city. The civil lawsuit is seeking punitive damages, costs and attorney fees. It accuses police of committing excessive force during the encounter, and accuses the city of failing to train officers properly.

• See related: NJ Family Files Lawsuit After Fatal Police Shooting In Newark
• See related: Fatal Police Shooting In Newark 2 Years Ago Hasn't Been Forgotten

The week prior to the shooting, the Newark Public Safety Department said that no local police officer had fired a shot in 2020, which some experts lauded as a major accomplishment and a sign that reforms in the department are working. Read More: Violent Crime Up In Newark For 2021, But Down Over 3-Year Period

After reviewing video footage of the shooting last year, Baraka said he found it to be “tragic and disturbing,” but also “incomplete.” The mayor added that the city and its police department would be looking into expanding the use of body cameras to include plainclothes units. Read More: Newark Mayor On Police Shooting: 'Tragic, Disturbing, Incomplete'

That new policy took effect in January 2021. Read More: Newark Now Requires Most Plainclothes Cops To Wear Body Cameras

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page.