Cop Accused of Stealing Journalist's Camera Gear
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An Apple AirTag and a police officer’s own body-worn camera have exposed a shocking betrayal of public trust in New Jersey, where a veteran law enforcement sergeant faces felony charges for allegedly stealing $10,000 worth of camera gear from an injured photojournalist.
The incident unfolded during a chaotic weekend outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, a facility that has become a national flashpoint for anti-ICE protests. Photojournalist Angelina Katsanis was on assignment for The Associated Press covering the tense standoff when she was struck in the knee by a wooden beam during a clash between police and demonstrators.
Hobbling to a medical tent for emergency attention, Katsanis had to leave her heavy gear bag behind. The bag was clearly marked with her name and contact information. When she was finally able to return to the secured area in a wheelchair, the bag was entirely gone.
“I checked my AirTag and the bag was already on a highway pretty far away at that point,” Katsanis recalled. “Right away, I had a feeling it was the police because they were the only ones with access to that area.”
Her instincts proved exactly right. The tracking device pinged directly to a home in Sparta, New Jersey, belonging to Sgt. Darryl Brown of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Though the AirTag itself was later found discarded on the side of a road miles away, state investigators quickly connected the dots.
A review of Sgt. Brown’s own body-worn camera footage from the night of the protest showed him actively interacting with a bag matching the description of Katsanis' missing property. Armed with a search warrant, state investigators raided Brown’s residence and recovered several pieces of the missing camera equipment. The items still had the photojournalist's name and phone number labels affixed to them.
Sgt. Brown, 43, has been suspended without pay and officially charged with third-degree theft. If convicted, he faces three to five years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.
The arrest comes at a time of heightened scrutiny for local law enforcement, who have faced heavy backlash for their aggressive response to the ongoing immigration protests. Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II moved quickly to condemn the action, stating that conduct undermining the public's trust in law enforcement is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. State Attorney General Jennifer Davenport echoed that sentiment, noting that when an officer does what is alleged in this case, it is a profound disservice to both the profession and the public.
For the journalism community, the targeted theft of a working reporter's gear while they are injured is a disturbing reminder of the vulnerabilities faced in the field. Katsanis, who has undergone specific hostile environment training, noted that the ordeal has left her deeply shaken.
“I've thought a lot about how the officers are supposed to be there to uphold the law and protect us and protect property,” Katsanis said. “And this is the exact opposite of that.”
