The quiet city of Newark, New Jersey, seen in the harsh light of a police scandal, has witnessed the sentencing of one of its own. Jovanny Crespo, a former Newark police officer found guilty in a violent shooting during a high-speed car chase over half a decade ago, was dealt a 27-year prison term. This event, which resulted in a life lost and another critically injured, has left an indelible mark on the city’s history.
In a stern statement denouncing a culture of reckless violence, Superior Court Judge Michael Ravin criticized what he condemned as the dangerous “shoot-first, ask-questions-later” approach among law enforcement. Crespo, 31, was sentenced to 20 years for aggravated manslaughter and an additional seven years for aggravated assault related to the distressing chase that took place back in January of 2019.
Upon hearing his inescapable fate, Crespo visibly sank back into his seat, the harsh breath of reality chilling his family who mournfully wept at his sentence. The judge did not hold back, making it crystal clear that freedom would not become an option for the former police officer for at least 22 years and 11 months.
The court wasn’t devoid of emotion, as earlier, a distraught Crespo had shed tears when his mother and sister had pleaded for mercy on his behalf. Despite the weight of his situation, he managed to find the strength to stand and tersely apologize to the victims’ families.
The irrefutable evidence that sat at the heart of the trial was the dashboard and police body camera footage from the deadly chase. It displayed Crespo’s precipitous actions when, heart pounding, he leapt from his patrol car, letting off three shots even as the pursuit continued. Under New Jersey law, such force is deemed tolerable only when the officer or another person is in immediate threat of death or severe bodily harm, a claim Essex County prosecutors disputed.
The defense had sought leniency on Crespo’s behalf, holding up his limited experience of less than two years on the force and alleged inadequate training as mitigating factors. Isaac Wright Jr., Crespo’s defense attorney, argued that superior officers should have intervened and terminated the car chase in its early stages.
However, prosecutors countered this argument by disclosing that Crespo had undergone rigorous training at the police academy for over six months, receiving instruction on the proper use of deadly force. Judge Ravin concurred with this perspective, describing Crespo as “extensively trained.”
The tragic chase, which spanned five tense minutes through Newark’s city streets, had resulted in the demise of 46-year-old driver Gregory Griffin and left his passenger critically wounded. This, the judge stated, was a gross and “abhorrent abuse of police power,” further illustrating the severity of the case and the need for recompense.
