VIDEO: Dashcam Video Clears New Jersey Officer of Wrongdoing During Traffic Stop
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.

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.
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.
Cephas was charged with driving under the influence and resisting arrest. Marijuana was reportedly found in his car.
More Technology
From the Show Floor: DroneSense by Versaterm
Learn about DroneSense by Versaterm as POLICE talks with Ryan Bracken, head of product. He explains the rapid advancements in drone technology, capabilities, and software.
Read More →
Motorola Solutions and Google Let Android Users Share Live Video with 911 in Seconds
Motorola Solutions’ 911 command center software now integrates with Google’s Android Emergency Live Video, so callers can let first responders see their emergency with a single click.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Versaterm
Learn more about Versaterm as POLICE visits with Rohan Galloway-Dawkins, chief product officer, to explore the company’s focus on a purpose-built platform for public safety.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Motorola Solutions
In this video, learn about the Motorola Solutions ecosystem and how it provides tools that enhance the efficiency and safety of police officers. You’ll hear about the APX NEXT radio and SVX system, Assisted Narrative, and more.
Read More →
Veritone & Armada Partner to Deliver Mission-Critical Edge Intelligence for Public Safety
Veritone and Armada will deliver a fully integrated edge-to-enterprise data fabric, capable of ingesting high-volume audio, video, drone, and sensor streams in the field and transforming them into actionable intelligence.
Read More →
Genetec Launches Cloudrunner Mobile App for Real-Time Vehicle Investigations in the Field
Genetec’s new Cloudrunner Mobile app extends Cloudrunner capabilities to the field, giving law enforcement and security professionals faster access to data and alerts wherever they are.
Read More →Learning How to Manage Your Fleet?
Watch this tutorial on how fleet management platforms work. You’ll see how easily you can integrate fleet telematics, dash cameras, and asset management in a single pane of glass and manage your fleet more effectively.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Semtech
Learn about the latest ruggedized routers designed for public safety vehicles as POLICE visits with Greg Hill of Semtech. These routers are equipped with the latest 5G technology.
Read More →How One Police Department Cut Crime by 46% with Smarter Patrol Management
Discover how one police department cut crime nearly in half using smarter patrol data. This whitepaper breaks down the real-world strategy behind a 46% drop in vehicle thefts, improved officer safety, and stronger community visibility.
Read More →
Genetec Showcases Its Latest Public Safety Innovations at IACP 2025
Genetec demonstrated its Cloudrunner, Citigraf, and Clearance during IACP 2025 to show how they can provide law enforcement with a unified situational awareness to make cities safer.
Read More →
