Local pastor alleges Carteret police officer used excessive force in parking arrest
CARTERET – A longtime local pastor, who had also served on the borough's Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment, is suing the borough and a police officer, alleging the officer used excessive force during an arrest when the pastor was trying to park in front of his home.
The Rev. Carlos Torres, senior pastor at Elim Pentecostal House of Worship on Union Street for 26 years, is alleging the use of unreasonable force, false arrest and imprisonment, assault and battery, after Officer Anthony Singh allegedly slammed into Torres and threw the pastor against the back of his car, injuring his shoulder, after the two men exchanged words about where the vehicle was parked.
Carteret Police Chief Dennis McFadden said the department doesn't comment on pending litigation.
On March 14, 2023, Torres was driving to his Washington Avenue home and noticed a patrol vehicle, driven by Singh, apparently following him. The patrol vehicle had no lights or sirens activated and was behind Torres as he arrived home, the lawsuit says.
According to the lawsuit, Torres does not have a driveway or parking area. His family parks on the street in front of their home.
When Torres arrived home, his wife's car and a neighbor's vehicle were already parked on the street. When he attempted to back up his large SUV to fit between the two parked vehicles, he was unable to reverse because the patrol vehicle was behind him, the lawsuit claims.
The patrol vehicle pulled around Torres' SUV and made a U-turn to park on the other side of the street. As Torres went to back up, he realized the space wasn't large enough and he needed his wife's car to move forward so he could get into the space, the lawsuit says.
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Torres called his wife, who was inside the home, but she didn't answer. He started to go into the home to get her car keys to move the vehicle himself, but when he found the door to his home locked, he returned to his vehicle to get his house key, according to the lawsuit.
As Torres headed to his SUV, he noticed Singh's patrol car was still parked on the other side of the street. He approached the officer to see if everything was OK, but the officer did not answer or roll down the window, the lawsuit says.
Torres' wife then returned her husband's call and said she was coming to move her car. Torres then pulled his car alongside his wife's vehicle to get ready to back into the space once she moved her vehicle, the lawsuit says.
Singh then made another U-turn onto the same side of the street as Torres' home, got out of his vehicle and approached Torres to ask why his car was stopped in the street. Torres explained he needed to have his wife's car moved up so he could park, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit alleges that Singh told Torres he had been "blocking the crossway" and was now "blocking the middle of the road." Torres denied it, adding he was double-parked for just few moments because he was waiting for his wife.
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Singh then asked Torres for his vehicle documents, but Torres responded he did not have to produce the papers, according to the lawsuit.
As Torres' wife walked to her car, Singh insisted that Torres was unjustifiably parked in the road, the lawsuit says.
As Torres continued to explain the circumstances, he became frustrated with the officer and said, "You don't want to mess with me – not today," according to the lawsuit. He signaled with his hand that he no longer wanted to continue talking and was walking away to move his vehicle, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit alleges Singh said, "Are you threatening me?" and Torres responded, "No, I'm not," and continued to walk toward his car.
At that point Singh allegedly ran up behind Torres, then "violently slammed into him" and threw Torres against the back of the car, and severely injuring his shoulder, the lawsuit charges.
Torres was arrested, detained and charged with failure to exhibit a driver’s license and registration, obstructing other vehicles, parking on roadway, obstruction, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. According to the lawsuit, Torres was handcuffed in the back of a patrol car and his wife was told her husband's car would be towed if it was not moved.
Court records show this isn't the first time Torres and Singh have interacted.
In January 2022 Torres pleaded guilty to a complaint signed by Singh related to dogs running at large on Oct. 30, 2021. Torres had to pay $233 in fines and other costs.
The charges against Torres in the 2023 cases are still pending in municipal court.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Carteret NJ police officer hit with lawsuit alleging excessive force
