Hip-Hop Musician Has Meltdown At Essex County Bar: Cops

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Police charged Daniel Demaio, a hip-hop musician from Little Falls, with burglary, raising a false public alarm and criminal mischief after the 27-year-old had a late-night meltdown at a Fairfield pub earlier this month, authorities announced Tuesday.

According to the Fairfield Police Department, Demaio – who uses the stage name “Daniel Thomas” – was at Thatcher McGhees on Passaic Avenue around 12:24 a.m. when he “intentionally broke a mirror in the bathroom that was valued at $250.”

Security personnel at the pub/restaurant confronted Demaio and ejected him from the facility. But he wasn’t ready to leave, police said.

“Surveillance video then allegedly shows Demaio pick up a flower pot and then throw it onto the windshield and hood of a 2008 Ford pickup truck that was parked in the lot,” Fairfield police stated.

Demaio allegedly re-entered the restaurant by illegally forcing open a side door, then entered a restricted area not open to the general public, police said.

At that time, Demaio allegedly “nearly ripped a panel box off the wall” and activated a fire pull box station, setting off the building’s fire alarm. Demaio then fled the scene before the Fairfield Fire Department responded, police said.

After investigating at scene, a Fairfield detective identified Demaio as the alleged culprit. After being charged with burglary, raising a false public alarm and criminal mischief, Demaio surrendered himself to authorities on Nov. 6.

Demaio was released on his own recognizance pending an appearance in the Essex County Superior Court, Fairfield police stated.

Demaio's song list includes “party jams about swigging whiskey,” according to gardenstatehiphop.com.

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Main Photo: Flickr / Grant