A Mercer County grand jury has indicted a Trenton Police detective on multiple charges related to the alleged unlawful use of force and false statements made in connection with a 2022 incident, Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey announced.
Following testimony and evidence presented on April 16, 2026, the grand jury returned a five-count indictment against Aaron Bernstein, 51, of Marlboro.
Bernstein is charged with:
- Two counts of second-degree official misconduct
- One count of third-degree perjury
- One count of third-degree aggravated assault
- One count of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose
The case was referred to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office in December 2024 by the Trenton Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit.
According to the indictment, the charges stem from a May 10, 2022 incident in which Bernstein allegedly used pepper spray against a 27-year-old Trenton man in violation of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Use of Force Policy.
Prosecutors also allege that Bernstein knowingly made false statements in a criminal complaint filed against the man, including charges of obstructing the administration of law and resisting arrest.
At the time of the incident, Bernstein was a 19-year veteran of the Trenton Police Department and held the rank of detective.
As with all criminal cases, the charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
