Full Breakdown
Sergeant Charged with Theft of Photojournalist’s Gear at Delaney Hall Protest
6/5/2026, 1:59:50 AM
Incident Summary
On May 30 2026, freelance photojournalist Angelina Katsanis was injured while covering a protest outside Delaney Hall, Newark’s ICE detention center. The protest, part of a hunger-and-labor strike by detainees, saw ICE agents and state police use rubber bullets, pepper spray and tear-gas. After dropping her labeled camera bag, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that Sgt. Darryl Brown of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office was charged with third-degree theft. A June 3 search warrant at Brown’s Sparta Township home recovered equipment valued at about $10,000.
Timeline
- May 30 2026: Katsanis injured; bag left.
- June 3 2026: Search warrant executed; gear recovered.
- July 2026: Court appearance scheduled.
Equipment Value
The stolen kit, valued at about $10,000, included a Sony A1 camera, lenses and high-performance storage cards.
Official Responses
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport called the conduct “a disservice to the profession and the public” and said “no one is above the law.” Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II called the allegations “serious and concerning” and warned that undermining public trust “will not be tolerated.” Governor Mikie Sherrill defended the police deployment; Mayor Ras Baraka condemned the tactics.
Criticism
Katsanis said officers “are the exact opposite of that” when they should protect the public. Her attorney Wylie Stecklow warned the theft “absconds with First Amendment equipment,” threatening press freedom.
On-the-Ground Account
Video shows Katsanis in a wheelchair pleading with reporters to pass a police barricade. After medical aid, she returned for her bag, only to find it missing. The AirTag led investigators to Brown’s home, and body-camera footage confirmed his interaction with the bag.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Advocates described the detainee action as a hunger strike, but reports note many participants ate snacks, indicating a partial strike. No criminal complaint has been released, leaving the theft’s factual basis unverified beyond the search-warrant affidavit.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When an officer does what is alleged in this case, it is a disservice to the profession and the public.” — Jennifer Davenport, Attorney General
- “Conduct that undermines the public’s trust in law enforcement is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.” — Theodore N. Stephens II, Essex County Prosecutor
- “I’ve thought a lot about how the officers are supposed to be there to uphold the law and protect us and protect property — and this is the exact opposite of that,” — Angelina Katsanis, photojournalist
- “There’s a lot of talk about the protesters being violent,” — Wylie Stecklow, attorney for Katsanis
Outlook
Brown’s court date is set for July 2026; a conviction could bring three to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine. The case adds a new layer to scrutiny of law-enforcement conduct at Delaney Hall as protests and legal challenges over detainee conditions persist.
