By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said last week that its investigation so far into a traffic stop and subsequent arrest of Princeton University professor Imani Perry has shown that the Princeton Police officer involved did nothing wrong.
“This is an internal affairs investigation that has thus far consisted of reviewing all relevant video evidence, police reports, and court documents,” said first Assistant Mercer County Prosecutor Doris M. Galuchie by email. “Based upon that review, the officer’s conduct is to be commended, not criticized. Unless Perry comes forward with additional evidence, the case will be closed by a finding exonerating the officer.”
Ms. Perry cancelled a meeting that she was supposed to have on Wednesday in Trenton with the Prosecutor’s Office, the outside agency investigating her encounter with Princeton Police last weekend.
“If she does not reschedule in the near future, we will close our investigation,” Ms. Galuchie said.
Reached by phone, Ms. Perry said Friday she had called the office to reschedule. She did not want to make further statements.
“She gave a reason for the cancellation that I am not at liberty to reveal,” Ms. Galuchie said. “Although she stated that she would reschedule, we have not yet heard from her.”
Prosecutor’s Office spokeswoman Casey DeBlasio said Tuesday that if Ms. Perry “does not get back to us before the end of the week, the case will be closed.” No further information was released.
Ms. Perry has claimed that she was mistreated by police, who pulled her over for speeding Saturday on Mercer Road for travelling 67 mph in a 45 zone. She has said that during the traffic stop, a male officer patted her down when there was a female officer available and that she was handcuffed to a table at police headquarters. Ms. Perry, who is black, injected race into the issue and claimed that her “blackness is not incidental” to this matter.”
Police have asked the Prosecutor’s Office to probe the incident, a proactive move on its part, the department has said.
Police this week released the dash cam video of the traffic stop, one that Councilwoman Jo S. Butler said Friday showed police acting in a “professional” manner.
“I thought our police did a very professional job. I think that they’re to be commended,” she said.
Ms. Perry, 43, is on sabbatical from the university, where she is a professor of African-American studies.
Mayor Liz Lempert and Council President Lance Liverman and Councilwoman Heather H. Howard, all of whom serve on the council’s public safety committee, did not respond to phone calls or emails Friday.
