New Jersey ex-cops admit vandalizing cars of man who filed complaint against them

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Two former Asbury Park, New Jersey police officers admitted they vandalized two cars belonging to a city gadfly last year after the man filed a complaint against them, authorities said.

Asbury Park police officers charged with vandalism

Officers Stephen M. Martinensen, 31, and Thomas A. Dowling, 27, both of Asbury Park, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal mischief at a virtual hearing before state Superior Court Judge Vincent N. Falcetano, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release.

Martinensen and Dowling were accused of vandalizing two cars, one in Asbury Park and one in Ocean Grove between 3 and 4 a.m. on Sept. 3, 2019. Authorities said the two wore masks, gloves and rode bikes to the locations of the two vehicles.

The complainant is a local journalist

At Tuesday’s hearing, they admitted slashing tires on both cars and smashing a window in one, causing more than $500 in damage, according to the news release. They also conceded they acted after the owner of the two vehicles filed an internal affairs complaint against them.

“Spiteful retaliation from law enforcement officers towards a citizen for any reason is an unacceptable option. This is in no way condoned at any level, for any reason. All members of the law enforcement community must maintain the public’s trust by conducting themselves at the highest level of integrity and decency,” Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said in a statement.

Sentencing

Prosecutors will recommend the pair avoid jail time and instead be sentenced to probation on the condition they pay restitution to the victim for the damaged cars, according to the news release.

As part of the plea agreements, the defendants were banned from holding any future public position in New Jersey.

Dowling had been a class-II special officer since May 2015 and was terminated after he was arrested in September. Martinsen, who started with the Asbury Park Police Department as a class-I special officer in 2013 and became a full-time officer in 2017, was suspended without pay in September.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 16th.