The prosecutor's office has previously said their review of the officers' conduct should be "commended, not criticized." Watch video
PRINCETON -- The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office has closed their investigation of Princeton Professor Imani Perry's arrest by police last month, saying the professor never followed up with the office about her allegations.
The prosecutor's office has previously said their review of the officers' conduct should be "commended, not criticized."
"As Perry never filed a complaint with our office, or came forward to us with any additional evidence to be considered after we reached out to her, we've closed our case with that determination," prosecutor's spokeswoman Casey DeBlasio said Thursday.
In early February, during a motor-vehicle stop on Mercer Road, officers found Perry was driving on a suspended license and had a warrant for her arrest stemming from two unpaid parking tickets in 2012. She had been pulled over for driving 67 mph in a 45 mph zone.
Following her arrest, Perry went on social media and accused Princeton police of lying about her arrest and claimed she was treated "inappropriately and disproportionately."
And Perry wrote: "The fact of my blackness is not incidental to this matter."
Shortly after their incident, just after Princeton police initiated a review of the arrest, Princeton Police Chief Nick Sutter asked the prosecutor's office to investigate to add a layer of objectivity to the incident.
Princeton professor says she claimed no racial bias in arrest
A few days after the prosecutor's took over the latter, Princeton police released footage of the Feb. 6 stop on Mercer Road.
Princeton police spokesman Lt. John Bucchere said Thursday that the footage speaks for itself.
"We're extremely proud of the officers' conduct and professionalism during the entire encounter," Bucchere said.
Perry declined to comment when reached by phone Thursday evening.
Last month, Perry posted online what she said would be her final statement on the matter, titling it "The End."
In it, Perry, a professor of African American Studies, said she never claimed racial bias was at work in her particular arrest.
"In the past several days I have found myself hampered in my regular political and intellectual engagements as a result of the public focus on this incident and in particular the focus on me," Perry wrote. "This is not an orientation I embrace. I'm a thinker and a writer, not a celebrity."
The incident drew national attention and Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber wrote about it twice, expressing his concern and pledging support for Perry, who he described as a "respected scholar and beloved teacher."
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.