Paterson Cop Pleads Guilty To Role In ER Hospital Beating

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ —A Paterson police officer Thursday admitted hiding the assault of an attempted suicide victim by another police officer at a hospital earlier this year.

Officer Roger Then, 29, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William Martini to misprision of felony for hiding the civil rights crime committed by his partner, Ruben McAusland, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Then was also initially charged with conspiring to violate an individual's civil rights. Then faces a maximum prison sentence of three years and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for March 12. (See related: NJ Cop Pushed Victim Of Attempted Suicide To Ground: Authorities)

McAusland previously pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute narcotics and deprivation of civil rights under color of law. He is awaiting sentencing.

Then and McAusland March 5 responded to a call from someone to tried to kill themselves and went to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Carpenito previously said.

The victim was sitting in a wheelchair and appeared to throw something down a hallway, video surveillance showed. Afterwards, McAusland pushed the wheelchair and punched the victim in the face, Carpenito said. As the victim falls, Then grabbed him by the back of the neck and pushed him to the ground, he said.

A video Then reportedly filmed with his cellphone shows McAusland putting on a pair of gloves, hitting the man twice across the face while he is in a hospital bed, and then telling him "I ain't f------ playing with you," authorities said.

Then and the other officer filed a police report, but did not mention that McAusland punched the victim, that Then assaulted him, or that the other officer struck him while lying in bed, Carpenito said.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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