NJ sergeant charged in theft of AP photographer gear

A New Jersey police sergeant has been charged with stealing an Associated Press photojournalist's equipment worth approximately $10,000 during protests outside an immigration detention facility in Newark. Sgt. Darryl Brown, a 43-year-old sergeant with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, faces a third-degree theft charge following an investigation by the state Attorney General's Office.

The incident occurred on the night of May 30 as photographer Angelina Katsanis was covering demonstrations at the Delaney Hall detention center. Katsanis was injured during the event, struck in the knee by what one account described as a piece of lumber. While she sought medical attention, she left behind a gear bag marked with her name and contact information. When she later returned to the area, the bag was gone. "I checked my Airtag and the bag was already on a highway pretty far away at that point," Katsanis recalled, adding that she suspected police involvement because they were the only ones with access to the area.

Using a geotracking device in the bag, Katsanis tracked the equipment to a home in Sparta Township. Investigators determined the home belonged to Brown. A review of his body...