Belleville’s ‘Sleeping Cop’ Charged In Barroom Fight With 3 Others

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Authorities have confirmed that a Belleville policeman charged with participating in a recent bar brawl in North Arlington alongside three other officers was suspended three years ago for falling asleep in his patrol vehicle.

Belleville Police Chief Mark Minichini verified Tuesday that officer Jesse McKeough, 28, of Belleville, was suspended in 2013 when a photograph of McKeough sleeping in his car in a Stop & Shop parking lot surfaced on Facebook, NJ.com reported.

After the photo emerged 2013, then-chief Joe Rotonda said the McKeough was working a part time job when he was photographed sleeping, and that the department was “proactive” when it learned of the photo.

“Obviously, we weren’t happy about it,” Rotonda said.

• See related article: Belleville Police Officer Suspended For Allegedly Sleeping On The Job

On Monday, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office announced that McKeough was one of four Belleville police officers charged with participating in an off-duty October barroom fight with a group of civilians in North Arlington.

All four officers have been suspended without pay, Belleville Police Chief Mark Minichini told Patch on Tuesday.

Only one of the civilians was charged in the incident, prosecutors said.

• See related article: 4 Belleville Cops Arrested After N.J. Bar Brawl With Civilians: Prosecutor

Other officers charged in the October bar fight include:

• John Clarizo, 32, of Nutley – one count of simple assault, hindering apprehension (for allegedly providing false information to a Lyndhurst officer)
• Marco Zarfino, 24, of Belleville – two counts of simple assault
• Giovanni Casillo, 39, of Wayne – one count of simple assault

Photo: YouTube screenshot

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