WOODLYNNE, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- A New Jersey officer is facing assault charges after a video captured him using pepper spray on two teen boys in an "unjustified" manner, prosecutors said Thursday.
Camden County Prosecutor's on Wednesday charged Woodlynne police officer Ryan Dubiel, 31, with two counts of simple assault.
Dubiel was also suspended without pay.
The officer's actions were not consistent with the state's use-of-force policy, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.
"Our Special Prosecutions Unit received the Internal Affairs complaint against Dubiel on June 5 and immediately began collecting all of the evidence to conduct a thorough and impartial review of the complaint," acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer said in a statement.
"After careful review, it was clear Dubiel's actions are not consistent with the State of New Jersey use-of-force policy," she added.
Dubiel and another officer approached a group of young people hanging out on a front porch on Parker Avenue on June 4, ABC 6 News reported.
The officers said they were there because after receiving a call claiming someone was smoking marijuana.
"Officer walked up talking about 'we have a call for marijuana,' but nobody had marijuana on them,'" 16-year-old James Horn, 16, told ABC 6 News.
Horn, another teen told the officers he would call his brother, who is his guardian. This can be heard on the cellphone video along with another person who is also heard saying "no, no, no, no, no."
No one in the video is seen approaching officer Dubiel who is seen taking out pepper spray and firing it directly at one of the teens who is sitting on the porch.
"So this is what y'all do now to innocent people?" a female is heard saying in the video.
According to authorities, Dubiel worked at eight other departments before joining the Woodlynne police 10 months ago.
"This officer, who has worked for nine different police departments, is a strong example of why we need a statewide licensing program for police officers," Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said in a statement. "Just as we license doctors, nurses, and lawyers, we must ensure that all officers meet baseline standards of professionalism and that officers who fail to meet those standards cannot be passed from one police department to another while posing a threat to the public and other officers."
