TRENTON — Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) today announced the filing of a criminal charge against an Essex County Prosecutor's Office sergeant, stemming from his alleged theft of a photojournalist’s camera equipment while the journalist was at a hospital being treated for injuries from a May 30, 2026 protest at Newark’s Delaney Hall.

Sergeant Darryl Brown, 43, of Sparta Township in Sussex County, has been charged by complaint summons with theft (3rd degree) following an investigation by investigators from OPIA’s Corruption Bureau.

“So many police officers conduct themselves with integrity, uphold the law, maintain order and public safety, and serve our communities with distinction in the face of great challenges, day in and day out,” said Attorney General Davenport. “When an officer does what is alleged in this case, it is a disservice to the profession and the public. I previously pledged that our Office would review allegations of improper conduct by law enforcement. We are doing exactly that, and this case is a result of that effort. Let me be clear: absolutely no one is above the law. We will hold law enforcement accountable when they abuse the tremendous position of public trust that they occupy and choose to break the law.”

“The allegations against Sergeant Brown are serious and concerning. He has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office,” said Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II. “Conduct that undermines the public’s trust in law enforcement is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office remains committed to accountability, integrity, and maintaining the public’s trust in the criminal justice system.”

According to the investigation, the photojournalist was in the area of Delaney Hall on Saturday. According to the complaint, the journalist suffered an injury while working at the scene and dropped a camera bag, containing an estimated $10,000 worth of cameras and related equipment. The journalist was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

As alleged in the complaint, following the journalist’s treatment, the journalist tracked the location of an Apple AirTag tracking device affixed to one of the items in the bag, and the trail led to a house in Sparta Township.

That AirTag was later recovered, without the other items, by a friend of the victim, several miles away from the initial tracked location. According to the investigation, the original destination of the AirTag was determined to be the residence of the defendant, who had been deployed to the area of Delaney Hall in his official law enforcement capacity on May 30, 2026.

As alleged, Brown’s body-worn camera footage from May 30, 2026 shows him interacting with a dark colored bag, consistent with the description of the victim's belongings.

According to the complaint, on June 3, 2026, a search warrant was executed at Brown’s residence and several of the items reported missing by the reporter were recovered, including several items that still had the victim’s name and phone number printed on labels affixed to them.

Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

These charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Defense counsel:

Unknown at this time