Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Dashcam Video Clears New Jersey Officer of Wrongdoing During Traffic Stop

During the traffic stop, officers broke out the passenger side window of Cephas' car and pulled him physically from the vehicle. Cephas contacted local and national media and, because this was shortly after the shooting of Michael Brown, the media pounced on the story.

December 19, 2014
Dashcam Video Clears New Jersey Officer of Wrongdoing During Traffic Stop

 

2 min to read


Ad Loading...

Around 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 13, North Brunswick, N.J., police officer Richard De La Cruz pulled over a car driven by Leonard Cephas for a rolling violation, specifically blowing a stop sign.

During the traffic stop, officers broke out the passenger side window of Cephas' car and pulled him physically from the vehicle. Cephas contacted local and national media and, because this was shortly after the shooting of Michael Brown, the media pounced on the story.

The reporters contacted both Cephas and the North Brunswick PD.

Cephas recorded his encounter with De La Cruz and other officers.

So did De La Cruz.

Ad Loading...

The officer's squad car had recently been outfitted with a WatchGuard Video system that started recording when the officer activated the car's emergency lights to pull over Cephas.

The official video shows Officer De La Cruz dealing with an uncooperative Cephas who will not roll down the windows of his car and has locked himself in the vehicle.

Other officers arrived to back up De La Cruz who repeatedly warned Cephas that, if he didn't roll down the window, the officers would break the window and arrest him. Cephas refused to roll down the window. Officers broke the window, pulled him out, proned him out on the ground, and arrested him.

After watching the official video, the reporters decided Cephas' claim of police brutality did not hold up.

"The video in this incident saved a lot of headaches for the department as well as Officer De La Cruz," says Capt. Brian Hoiberg of the North Brunswick PD.

Ad Loading...

Cephas was charged with driving under the influence and resisting arrest. Marijuana was reportedly found in his car.


More Technology

Cellebrite and SkySafe logos appear over a city skyline at sunset with a drone in flight, illustrating a partnership focused on drone detection, investigation, and public safety technology.
TechnologyJuly 9, 2026

Cellebrite Expands Exclusive SkySafe Partnership to Deliver Immediate Drone Detection and Airspace Intelligence for Digital Investigations at Scale

By integrating SkySafe's drone detection and airspace intelligence with Cellebrite's platform, agencies can connect real-time and historical UAV flight data with mobile forensic evidence, all in one place.

Read More →
DroneShield report cover featuring a commercial airliner in flight against a dramatic sky. The publication, Airspace Under Pressure, focuses on counter-UAS readiness for airports and critical infrastructure.
TechnologyJuly 9, 2026

New DroneShield Report Reveals Serious Gaps in Airport, Critical Infrastructure Counter-Drone Security

Survey results, as part of “Airspace Under Pressure: A Global Assessment of Counter-UAS Readiness Across Airports and Critical Infrastructure,” indicate that 60% of organizations say they lack legal authority to act against unauthorized drones.

Read More →
Screenshot of Veritone Redact software automatically detecting and obscuring a driver's face in dashcam video. Headline reads, “Accelerating Public Records Fulfillment,” highlighting AI-powered video redaction for public safety agencies.
TechnologyJuly 2, 2026

CHP to Accelerate Evidence Redaction & Public Records Fulfillment Through Veritone Redact

With Veritone Redact, the California Highway Patrol can redact video, audio, and image-based evidence, reducing time spent on evidence preparation and public record requests.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Collage showing rooftop surveillance and radar equipment installed on commercial buildings. One image features a close-up of mounted sensors and antennas; the other shows multiple monitoring systems across a rooftop. Echodyne logo displayed prominently below.
TechnologyJune 18, 2026

Echodyne Expands Public Safety Radar Applications Through Partnership with Axon

Echodyne has partnered with Axon to support safer and more scalable drone operations across law enforcement, homeland security, and Drone as First Responder programs globally.

Read More →
Graphic promoting airspace security for the FIFA World Cup, featuring the Miami skyline at sunset with large text reading “Securing Miami’s Airspace for FIFA World Cup” and a soccer ball in the foreground.
TechnologyJune 18, 2026

Miami Police Department Deploys Airwayz’s Overwatch Platform During FIFA World Cup Events

The deployment of Airwayz’s Overwatch airspace management platform during the FIFA World Cup demonstrates the future of airspace infrastructure for managing, securing, and coordinating complex urban airspace environments.

Read More →
Officer smiling with an executive
SponsoredMay 19, 2026

How Patrolfinder Uses Data to Make Streets Safer

Law enforcement agencies have long relied on instinct and routine to optimize patrols. Patrolfinder uses data to help agencies see where officers go — and where they don’t — to improve visibility and maximize coverage.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic depicting crime prevention, featuring a shadowed hooded figure against a dark city backdrop with police lights and shield imagery. Text reads: “Crime Prevention Through Remote Guarding with Human Intervention.”
Technologyby Wayne ParhamMay 14, 2026

Crime Prevention by Merging Tech with Human Intervention

Elite Interactive Solutions tackles crime prevention with technology and human intervention, working closely with local police to provide insights when a response is needed. The key is to blend the latest in remote video monitoring, artificial intelligence, and a well-trained agent with eyes on the scene.

Read More →
Close-up of a person holding an Axis body-worn camera toward the viewer. The camera is in sharp focus, while the person wearing a dark uniform appears blurred in the background outdoors.
TechnologyMay 7, 2026

Case Study Details Integration of Body-Worn Cameras with CAD

The Billerica Police Department (Massachusetts) improved transparency and accountability, sharpened evidence management, and reduced manual hours by integrating Axis Communications body-worn cameras with its Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.

Read More →
Dark map of downtown Chicago displaying three emergency alerts for reported gunfire near Randolph Street, W Harrison Street, and N Columbus Drive. Blue circular markers indicate locations near Union Park, Clark Art Museum, and Jack Academy High School.
TechnologyMay 7, 2026

ZeroEyes Public Safety Alerts Integrates Samdesk for Real-Time Risk Detection and Awareness

ZeroEyes has integrated Samdesk into its Public Safety Alerts platform to deliver faster, verified intelligence to help organizations understand emerging risks and respond quickly.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
High-angle view of cars with lights turned on crossing the George Washington Bridge at dusk.
TechnologyMay 7, 2026

NJ Police Department Combines Strong Technology & Public Safety Strategy

The Fort Lee Police Department in New Jersey has modernized with Genetec Security Center, including video management, automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), and Clearance digital evidence management.

Read More →