WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
An ex-New Jersey cop has been found guilty of manslaughter in the caught-on-video shooting death of a fleeing suspect during a frenzied high-speed chase through Newark.
Jovanny Crespo, 26, was found guilty by an Essex County jury late Wednesday after six days of tense deliberations, and now faces up to 30 years behind bars on the top charge when he is sentenced in September, NJ.com reported.
Crespo was convicted on all six counts against him, including aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault, official misconduct and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in the 2019 shooting, the outlet reported.
“No one, even a sworn law enforcement officer, is above the law or below the law,” Executive County assistant prosecutor Alex Albu said after the verdict.
“We obviously entrust our police officers,” Albu said. “It’s an immense responsibility. We arm them with guns to protect us. But in doing so they are bound by very specific training and guidelines that they have to follow, not only to protect themselves but to protect the public.”
He said the prosecution’s case “wasn’t just a matter of what one officer said versus what witnesses said at the scene. We had [bodycam] video.”
Newark Police Officer Jovanny Crespo, 26, was found guilty of manslaughter and other charges in the January 2019 shooting death of Gregory Griffin and wounding of Andrew Dixon during a high-speed car chase. CBSCrespo was on duty on Jan. 28, 2019, when another Newark cop pulled over a Chrysler 300 at 11:17 p.m. with 46-year-old Gregory Griffin behind the wheel and Andrew Dixon in the passenger’s seat.
The cop, Valderia Sanchez, repeatedly ordered Griffin to turn off the car, but then spotted a gun inside the vehicle and the Chrysler sped off — with the officer then radioing in for backup.
Crespo and his partner then joined the chase through Newark’s Central Ward, with Crespo twice jumping out of his patrol car and opening fire on the fleeing vehicle, apparently missing, the bodycam video shows.
“Relax, bro!” his partner, Hector Ortiz, is heard telling a pumped-up Crespo in the footage.
Essex County prosecutors said Newark cop Jovanny Crespo, 26, was never in harm’s way when he opened fire and killed Gregory Griffin and wounding of Andrew Dixon during a high-speed car chase in Newark in January 2019. CBSWhen the Chrysler comes to a stop, Crespo is heard shouting, “He’s gonna hop out!”
He races up to the car and is heard yelling, “Stop the car!” and immediately opens fire, hitting both men in the head, according to prosecutors.
“Get out of the car, get out of the car,” Crespo yells, as Dixon is seen still moving and is pulled out of the car by several Newark cops.
“I shot him in the head,” Crespo is heard saying. “Get the gun out.”
Newark cop Jovanny Crespo, 26, will appeal his manslaughter conviction this week in the 2019 shooting death of Gregory Griffin and wounding of Andrew Dixon, his lawyer, Patrick Toscano, told reporters after the verdict. ABCGriffin died at the scene. Dixon survived but died later in an unrelated car accident.
Crespo was arrested and suspended by the department pending the outcome of the criminal case, which culminated with a seven-week trial that has now ended with his conviction.
Prosecutors argued that Crespo was never in any “imminent danger” and that firing three times at the car was unjustified.
Guidelines from the state’s Attorney General prohibit opening fire on a moving vehicle unless it’s a last resort or to prevent death or serious injury to the cop or another person, NJ.com noted.
Crespo was canned from the department following his conviction, CBS New York reported. He was remanded into custody.
His lawyer, Patrick Toscano, defended the cop’s actions and said he would appeal.
“Obviously, we certainly are gravely disappointed with this jury’s decision, especially after several days of deliberations and three different alternate jurors having been chosen along the way,” he told reporters.
“Because of what we believe to be myriad trial court errors requiring prompt reversal of this injustice, we look forward to filing and arguing our appeal to an objective appellate court panel.”






