By: Richard L. Smith
An investigation involving Apple AirTag tracking data, body-worn camera footage, and the execution of a search warrant has resulted in a theft charge against an Essex County Prosecutor’s Office sergeant, according to state authorities.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) announced that Sergeant Darryl Brown, 43, of Sparta Township, has been charged by complaint summons with third-degree theft stemming from the alleged theft of a photojournalist’s camera equipment following a protest at Newark’s Delaney Hall on May 30.
According to investigators, the photojournalist was covering events near Delaney Hall when an injury sustained at the scene required medical treatment at a nearby hospital.
During the incident, the journalist reportedly dropped a camera bag containing approximately $10,000 worth of cameras and related equipment.
Authorities said that after receiving treatment, the journalist used an Apple AirTag attached to one of the missing items to track the equipment’s location. 
Investigators determined that the AirTag initially led to a residence in Sparta Township.
The AirTag was later recovered several miles away by a friend of the victim, but the remaining equipment was still missing.
According to the investigation, authorities determined the original destination of the tracking device was the residence of Brown, who had been deployed to the Delaney Hall protest in his official law enforcement capacity.
Investigators also allege that body-worn camera footage from May 30 shows Brown interacting with a dark-colored bag matching the description of the journalist’s missing property.
On June 3, members of OPIA’s Corruption Bureau executed a search warrant at Brown’s residence.
Authorities said several items reported stolen by the journalist were recovered, including equipment bearing labels with the victim’s name and phone number.
Attorney General Davenport said the allegations undermine the trust placed in law enforcement officers who serve the public honorably every day.
“So many police officers conduct themselves with integrity, uphold the law, maintain order and public safety, and serve our communities with distinction in the face of great challenges, day in and day out,” Davenport said. “When an officer does what is alleged in this case, it is a disservice to the profession and the public.”
Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II said Brown has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the Attorney General’s investigation.
“The allegations against Sergeant Brown are serious and concerning,” Stephens said. “Conduct that undermines the public’s trust in law enforcement is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office remains committed to accountability, integrity, and maintaining the public’s trust in the criminal justice system.”
If convicted, Brown faces a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.