A Trenton police officer has been removed from duty while authorities investigate at least two incidents in which he used excessive force during arrests last year, two law enforcement sources say.

The investigation of Anthony Villanueva, a city officer since 2015, began last year with Trenton police and the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office, but it's since been taken over by the FBI, the sources said.

Among the incidents, investigators are looking at the officer's conduct with a suspect in the moments after a police chase in Trenton in April 2017, sources said.

The sources could not be identified publicly because they were not authorized to discuss the case.

Mercer County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Casey DeBlasio confirmed that the office was investigating Villanueva, but it was referred to federal authorities in July of last year.

DeBlasio had no further comment.

Trenton Police Director Ernest Parrey Jr. also declined to answer any questions about Villanueva.

The director did confirm Villanueva was suspended without pay in early February of this year, after being suspended with pay sometime last year. He declined to answer any other questions.

Villanueva was making about $59,100 when suspended, state records show.

Doreen Holder, spokeswoman for the FBI's New Jersey office, said the agency could neither confirm nor deny the existence or nonexistence of an investigation.

Villanueva's alleged conduct on the arrests was uncovered during reviews of police body camera footage by Mercer prosecutor's officials, the sources said. Trenton patrol officers started wearing body cameras in May 2016.

Authorities are examining two incidents from 2017 in which Villanueva was present, the sources said.

One was the April 2017 arrest of Trenton resident Chanzie Washington, who officers apprehended following a vehicle pursuit, and foot pursuit.

Officers - including Villanueva - apprehended Washington at Passaic and West Hanover streets after he eluded them by jumping in the Delaware and Raritan Canal and swam to the other side.

The police department had publicly commented on the arrest, saying Washington, 36, at the time, was detained following a brief struggle with officers.

A third-degree eluding charge against Washington for the incident was later dismissed by the prosecutor's office, court records show.

The investigation of Villanueva and his recent suspension is known topic among many Trenton police officers.

Attempts to reach him Friday were unsuccessful. He graduated from the Mercer County Police Academy in February 2015.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.