NEWTON, NJ (Sussex County) – A Hopatcong Borough police officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to assaulting a handcuffed suspect in 2023, according to Acting Sussex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray.
James D. Still, 39, of Fredon Township pled guilty to simple assault for an incident that occurred on Nov. 7, 2023 that arose while Still was a uniformed police officer for the Hopatcong Borough Police Department, Murray said.
On Nov. 7, an individual was arrested in the town for a driving while intoxicated charge. Once this individual was transported back to the station for processing, Still used excessive force on the arrestee by grabbing his arm and hair, and striking his head into a glass partition in the lobby of the station, causing injury to the individual’s face and head, Murray said.
The incident was captured on body worn video and can be viewed here.
This incident was immediately reported to the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office and an investigation was initiated by the Office’s Department of Professional Standards, with the help of the Hopatcong Borough Police Department, Murray said.
As condition of the plea agreement, Still agreed to forfeit his current employment with the Hopatcong Police Department and any future public employment. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 28, Murray said.
Still was represented by Lori Dvorak, Esq. and the State was represented by Special Deputy Attorney General/Acting Assistant Prosecutor Jonathan E. McMeen.
