Nutley Fire Chief Arrested, Thought He Was Meeting Teen For Sex: HCPO

NUTLEY, NJ — Police arrested a volunteer fire chief in Nutley after he allegedly attempted to meet a juvenile for sex in North Bergen earlier this month, authorities announced Friday.

According to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Henry Meola, 33, of Nutley, was charged with luring and attempted endangering the welfare of a child after an investigation. Police arrested Meola at his home in Nutley and transported him to the North Bergen Police Department.

Meola is being held at the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending his initial court appearance, authorities said.

Prosecutors released the following statement about the allegations against Meola:

“The investigation determined Meola arranged to meet an individual, who he believed to be a minor, for sexual activity in North Bergen.”

The Nutley Police Department first announced the probe on Dec. 7, confirming that authorities are investigating allegations against a “volunteer fire chief” that involved a video posted by a YouTuber.

The probe stems from a video OBL Nation posted of man in New Jersey, which claimed that the man thought he was meeting with a 14-year-old juvenile at the Walmart in North Bergen – only to find the YouTube channel's host waiting for him instead. A shorter version of the video has since been posted to Instagram.

The case was initially assigned to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and later transferred to Hudson County.

The Nutley Board of Commissioners released a joint statement about the allegations against Meola on Friday:

"Today, the Nutley Board of Commissioners learned of the formal arrest and charging of Henry Meola. Mr. Meola had previously been suspended from his duties as fire chief on December 7, 2022. The township is disappointed and extremely concerned about the nature of the charges. The township is working with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in this investigation of Mr. Meola. Be assured that the board will continue to cooperate with this investigation and will take any further action that is necessary."

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