Crime & Safety
Officer Who Arrested Assemblyman on DWI Charges Challenges Firing: Reports
Joseph DiBuonaventura was found innocent by a jury last year, but was fired after a hearing officer reviewed the situation.
The Washington Township Police officer who was suspended without pay after arresting Assemblyman Paul Moriarty in 2012 has been fired, but he is appealing the decision, the Courier Post reports.
Patrolman Joseph DiBuonaventura was found not guilty by a jury last year on charges of official misconduct for allegedly filing false DWI charges against Moriarty.
However, shortly after the acquittal, the township filed disciplinary charges against DiBuonaventura, alleging he lied on Moriarty’s initial arrest report, according to the report.
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In his career, he also allegedly filed phantom warnings, lied about the number of traffic stops he made and failed to respond to radio calls, among other offenses, according to the report.
In a hearing on Jan. 11 of this year, Hearing Officer and Ret. Judge Barnett Hoffman ruled in favor of the township, and on Jan. 25, DiBunoaventura was told he would be fired, effective Feb. 4, according to nj.com. Hoffman said his ruling was based on the fact DiBuonaventura allegedly lied about stopping Moriarty, and DiBuonaventura’s attorney has filed an appeal.
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The attorney is the same one who defended DiBuonaventura last year, according to the report.
DiBuonaventura had been facing 14 counts after he stopped Moriarty following a visit to a Nissan dealership run by political opponents who had campaigned against him the previous year. Those charges were were eventually dismissed and the investigation turned to DiBuonaventura.
DiBunoaventura said he was responding to reports from employees at the car dealership that Moriarty was drunk when he left the dealership. He maintained an officer is “duty bound” to respond to reports of a drunk driver.
He also said Moriarty cut him off and his attorney said Moriarty violated state law by not using the deceleration lane prior to his turn.
However, the video shown in court during the trial showed there was a car between DiBuonaventura and Moriarty, and Borkowski disagreed with the assessment that Moriarty violated the law while making his turn.
Read Also:
South Jersey Assemblyman Says He Was Humiliated by 2012 DWI Arrest
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