'We want the truth,' chief says of Phillip White case

VINELAND The use of a police dog on a prone Phillip G. White was not excessive and ended a violent altercation with two officers, police Chief Timothy Codispoti said this afternoon.

"That's what did it," Codispoti said. "Deploying the dog resulted in Mr. White stopping his aggressive, violent behavior."

White, 32, of Vineland died shortly after his arrest on March 31 on the 100 block of Grape Street. An official cause of death and toxiciology results have not made public, yet.

Witness video of the arrest of Phillip White

White died while on the way by ambulance to a hospital. The ambulance was called prior to the fight with police because he appeared to be sick.

Codispoti confirmed that a K9 controlled by Officer Louis Platania did bite the suspect. At the time, White was on the ground and Platania was next to the man grappling with him.

Codispoti said the autopsy will describe where White was bitten and the severity. He declined to comment on the record.

Bystanders are known to have taken two videos, one of which police obtained via a download at the scene. The identity of the second bystander is not known because he left the scene before police talked to him, the chief said.

The videos begin at the point where White is on the ground. The reported struggle with White over one officer's holstered weapon occurred before the videos were taken, police said.

"I did view the second video that was released to the media this morning," Codispoti said. "And what I see there in that video is, again, a corroboration of what we hear on radio channel transmissions, which is a violent struggle that has broken out after the officer arrived, (and) called for EMS for Mr. White."

Police chief discusses White videos

On Tuesday, police posted several radio transmission recordings on YouTube. One recording focuses on back and forth talk between police and the 9-1-1 dispatcher; a second is the original complaint call to 9-1-1; and the third cover contacts with EMS.

In one tranmission, an officer, not identified, reports that White tried to take his holstered sidearm.

Codispoti noted the bystander videos show Platania left his car without his patrol dog when he first arrived. The dog was released from the vehicle after a struggle broke out.

Previously, officials noted White and police at first were talking to each other and the issue was whether White needed medical attention.

"Obviously, within a minute, it turns into a struggle, a violent struggle, a life-threatening struggle," Codispoti said.

Codispoti said the two officers sent first, Platania and Richard Janasiak, suffered minor scrapes and bruises.

One of the consequences of the attention the case has drawn is an alleged threat by the hacker collective Anonymous and the publication of the identities and addresses of officers.

As far as Anonymous, Codispoti said, officials aren't aware that any action was ever taken by whomever put up the video threat Monday morning.

"I think that has to be assessed in light of whatever has happened and is going to happen," the chief said. "And then maybe there will be a determination to go after them."

White, whose nickname was "Capone," had multiple indictable level convictions that included narcotics offenses. The information is part of the state judicial database and is public.

"That was a moniker he gave himself," Codispoti said. "And that is the nickname that goes along with him. That kind of says something."

Still, Codispoti said, he didn't want to discuss White's background.

"I think the facts are the facts," Codispoti said. "We're interested in the truth. It's what we want. I'm comfortable with what the truth will be. It's what the prosecutor wants. It's what the community wants. We all want the same thing. We want the truth."

For the latest local news, follow @jpsmith_dj