*These are allegations against the Long Branch police department by Joscil Jackson and they are being investigated.
Long Branch, NJ – Joscil Jackson was a standout football player for Long Branch High School. He was the 2012 Shore Conference Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-State, and First Team All-Conference. Jackson won the Frank E. Tomaini Memorial Football Award and is only the second player to receive the award twice. The first was NFL Hall of Famer Sam Mills in 1976 and 1977.
Aside from Jackson’s individual athletic achievements, Long Branch’s 2012-2013 football team also had a victorious year. The team won their state championship, which garnered the attention of Mayor Adam Schneider, who awarded Jackson and the team the key to the city.
Jackson was also an honor student, and with the combination of his athletic prowess, he signed to play football for the University of New Haven in Connecticut.
Joscil Jackson, Univ. of New Haven football
He didn’t know what trouble was. During his secondary school days until now, the 21-year-old current HVAC student is known in the Long Branch community as a well-respected, well-mannered, hard-working, talented young man and a thoroughbred of the city. So when Jackson was stopped by Long Branch police for a minor traffic violation and ended up with bruises, pepper spray in his eyes, and most of all, emotionally hurt; it left him asking many questions. One of them was why.
The incident
On the afternoon of Dec. 30th, 2016, Jackson was driving back to his Ellis Avenue home after visiting his God-brother and dropping off his friend. He was stopped by Long Branch Police Detective O’Brien on Broadway (east bound) between the Long Branch police station and the public library.
Jackson says when he was pulled over, he immediately asked why he was stopped and asked for the officer’s name.
Detective O’Brien told him he was being stopped for texting on the phone and obstruction in his vehicle’s mirror (items hanging from the rear view mirror), said Jackson.
He questioned the detective’s claims, telling O’Brien that he was not texting but agreed on the obstruction from the rear view mirror.
Jackson said that it seemed that he would be getting simple tickets for the minor traffic violations and go about his way.
But things quickly escalated.
He watched as more patrol cars pulled up to the scene and when they approached, he said they tried to look into his vehicle.
Jackson asked O’Brien why more officers were needed for a minor traffic stop, and that’s when Jackson said O’Brien told him to focus his attention on him.
While Jackson proceeded to tell Dectective O’Brien that he’s nervous based on the heightened cases of unarmed Black men and women fatal police incidents in the country – a reasonable and justifiable fear – Jackson stated that O’Brien said to him “you’re pulling the race card”. Before Jackson could respond, Long Branch police officers were surrounding his vehicle.
Instead of neutralizing the situation, the officers began to escalate it even after I told them I was scared, said Jackson.
Jackson admitted at first attempt he refused to get out of the car when asked because he was afraid for his life.
On the second attempt, Jackson alleges O’Brien pulled him from his vehicle and was “brutally beaten” by O’Brien and the other officers on the scene. Jackson said as they were assaulting him, he tried to block the swings.
The Long Branch detectives and officers identified on the scene through an obtained police report are : Pescucci, Romano, Roselli, and Rodriquez.
Officer Roselli was involved in a previous incident when a Long Branch citizen alleged Roselli cursed at her while working out . The citizen said Officer Roselli escalated the situation which resulted in her being charged with disorderly conduct.
Joscil Jackson bruises
After the chaotic event ended and Jackson was detained, he was searched and taken to the Long Branch police station — which is nearly steps away from where the incident took place . He was charged with having a small amount of marijuana and “assaulting” Detective O’Brien.
While sitting in the booking room, several of the officers “were joking about the incident” and the physical harm that was done to him, as if it were some type of revenge, alleges Jackson.
This is not the first time Jackson has been stopped by Long Branch police. He now believes there might be some harassment going on.
When we interviewed Joscil and his mother (a registered nurse), there was an evident disappointment toward a police department they feel are supposed to protect and serve them as life long respected citizens of Long Branch.
They reached out to our outlet to tell their story in hopes someone that day witnessed what happened as they build a case against the Long Branch police department and fight against the charges Jackson received.
“What Did I Do To Deserve This?”
Jackson has filed a complaint against the Long Branch Department.
We reached out to the Long Branch police and an official said the internal civilian complaint is being investigated.
Joscil Jackson shared the letter he wrote with the complaint and we are posting it to show the heartfelt hurt this young man has over the incident:
Check out the interview below:
