Bridgewater Cop, Prosecutor To Begin Mediation Over Mall Investigation

BRIDGEWATER, NJ —The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office and Bridgewater Police Officer Adam Giurlando to begin mediation to end an eight-month-long stalemate over the release of documents related to the Feb. 12, 2022 mall incident.

On Nov. 14, Somerset County Superior Court ordered both sides to meet in mediation to resolve their issue, according to court documents. A resolution has not been announced as of Nov. 29.

The stalemate began on April 12 when the Somerset County Prosector's Office(SCPO) received a subpoena from Giurlando's attorney seeking two specific documents - the Use of Force Report authored by Dr. Celeste and the report authored by First Assistant Somerset County Prosecutor Brian Stack.

On July 12, the SCPO filed a motion to quash in Somerset County Superior Court against Giurlando who could face disciplinary action for his involvement in the Feb. 12, 2022 mall incident. Read More: Motion Filed Against Bridgewater Cop Involved In Mall Investigation

On Aug. 9, Raymond J. Stine of Schaffer Shain Jalloh, who is representing Giurlando, filed a cross-motion to enforce its subpoena from April 12 requesting the two documents.

The motion for the subpoena and the cross-motion to enforce the subpoena were heard in court on Oct. 17 before mediation was ordered.

Bridgewater Township is awaiting the outcome of the court ruling to determine if any disciplinary action will be taken against Giurlando and Officer Brittany MacDonald.

Both Giurlando and MacDonald were involved in the 2022 incident that went viral nationally when it was recorded by body-worn cameras and mall patrons outside Bloomingdale’s at the mall just after 7 p.m. on Feb. 12, 2022. Read More: Cops Criticized After Stopping Teen Fight At Bridgewater Mall

During the incident, Bridgewater Township police officers forced one juvenile, a 14-year-old Black boy, to the ground and handcuffed him, while a 15-year-old, who is of Colombian and Pakistani heritage and who was perceived to be white, was placed on a chair and not handcuffed, according to the Attorney General.

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