A South Jersey police officer, who has been suspended without pay since he was charged with three crimes over the last year, is the subject of a federal civil rights lawsuit that alleges the veteran cop used excessive force and made an unlawful arrest.

According to the lawsuit, Carneys Point Township police Cpl. Nathan Pino “abruptly approached” Avantai Lackey in August 2017 at a Pilot Truck Stop gas pump and allegedly picked up Lackey and forcefully took him to the ground.

Once Pino had Lackey, of Swedesboro, on the concrete, the officer handcuffed and arrested the man “for no apparent legal or lawful reason and without any resistance” from Lackey, according to the lawsuit, which was filed May 24 in federal court in Newark.

Lackey’s attorney provided NJ Advance Media cell phone footage of the incident taken by Lackey’s girlfriend that apparently shows the arrest, but it does not include what led to the confrontation. In the video, Pino puts his arms around Lackey and tries to pick him up, as a shirtless Lackey tells him to, “Get the f--- off me.”

As Pino picks up Lackey, it appears to show Pino beginning to forcefully bring the man to the ground, but then they move out of the frame of the video.

The lawsuit describes the alleged takedown as a “body slam.”

The 35-second video then shows Lackey on his back, while Pino yells, “Turn around!” multiple times in an attempt to handcuff Lackey. According to the video, Lackey complies, putting his hands behind his back before Pino handcuffs him.

According to the lawsuit, Lackey was charged with assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest by attempting to flee and using force. The charges were later dismissed after Lackey completed a pre-trial intervention program, according to Lackey’s attorney, Joel Silberman.

“The actions of Cpl. Pino are frightening and cannot be tolerated," Silberman said in an email. "Fortunately this incident was bravely captured on video so that Cpl. Pino’s lies and false charges could be exposed. The citizens of Carneys Point and South Jersey should not have to endure unlawful encounters with the police as evidenced in Mr. Lackey’s case.”

Pino’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

According to the lawsuit, Pino and other members of the Carneys Point police department also allegedly “destroyed” Lackey’s car by “ripping it apart piece-by-piece.”

“(Lackey’s) vehicle was destroyed beyond repair by these actions,” the lawsuit states.

Nathan F. Pino, 33, is suspended from his position as a Carneys Point Township police officer pending outcome of his criminal charges.

The federal lawsuit comes on the heels of Pino having been arrested previously, as reported by NJ Advance Media. In January, he was arrested after officers allegedly discovered an illegal assault rifle at his Mickleton home while executing a domestic violence search warrant. Pino had previously been charged with stalking and harassing his ex-girlfriend.

The same day he was charged with a weapons offense, officers saw Pino driving by the woman’s Camden County home. When they conducted a motor vehicle stop, Pino allegedly refused to get out of the car and resisted arrest.

In March, Pino was arrested again after he allegedly sent text messages to a Penns Grove police officer in which he threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend and poison her dog. He was charged with making terroristic threats.

“She is dead in under two weeks after I make her life hell,” one message stated, according to a criminal complaint. “I’m killing her dog first.” “Get me psyched up and I’ll do it tonight.”

Pino also threatened to kill himself, according to the complaint.

Carneys Point police Chief Krivda said Pino is still suspended without pay and as of Tuesday, Pino was still in jall pending the criminal charges he is facing in three different counties.

A 12-year veteran of the department, Pino, who previously served as the president of the Carneys Point Police Officers Association, had an annual salary of $84,339, according to state pension records.

Krivda said he is aware of the incident alleged in the federal lawsuit, but said he did not know a lawsuit had been filed. He declined to comment further.

The six-count lawsuit that includes allegations of excessive force, illegal search and seizure and municipal liability names Pino, the township and the police department.

In the tiny township of around 8,000 residents along the Delaware River, Pino reported using force eight times from 2012 to 2016, the second most in the department during that time period, according to The Force Report. The average officer reported using force less than four times.

The department named Pino the police officer of the year in 2014.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Matt Gray contributed reporting to this story.

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow on Twitter @monavage. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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