New Brunswick Police Seize Water Meter Given to Newspaper (VIDEO)

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - New Brunswick police officers executed a search warrant Tuesday at the downtown offices of a local newspaper, New Brunswick Today, and seized a water meter that the newspaper says is part of their corruption investigation into the New Brunswick Water Utility — but the police say is stolen property.

In the video below, you can watch as the two New Brunswick police officers show up at the offices of New Brunswick Today shortly before 4 p.m. on Tuesday, December 20 and show editor Charlie Kratovil the warrant signed by Superior Court Judge Colleen Flynn. They demanded Kratovil give them a water meter reader. After first calling his lawyer, Kratovil handed it over.

The water meter reader had been given to the newspaper editor by a confidential source, as part of New Brunswick Today's ongoing investigation into alleged corruption at the New Brunswick Water Utility. A former Water Utility employee had told Kratovil that the meter in question was "proof that a crime has been committed," corroborating what he had heard from another source. The meter was featured in the December 16 livestream episode of "The New Brunswick Today Show." (Watch that Dec. 16 broadcast here.)

Someone at the Water Utility saw that broadcast and called the police, reporting the meter missing. New Brunswick Police seized it Tuesday on the basis that it was stolen city property. Judge Flynn's warrant also allowed the police to seize the memory card on which the show had been broadcast, but no memory card exists as the show was livestreamed.

Because of the seizure, New Brunswick Today was unable to have an independent company test the meter to determine whether it was working properly, or if it had been damaged or tampered with. It's not clear what the future holds for the device, or if there is a possibility that it will ever be returned to the newspaper.

"It is apparent that the New Brunswick PD and the Middlesex County Superior Court have once again over-reached beyond their legal authority in an unconstitutional manner," said Kratovil. "Please speak up in favor of investigating the actual elements of corruption instead of investigating journalists who expose the truth about our city."

Kratovil asked that any supporters attend Wednesday night's New Brunswick City Council meeting. Wednesday's City Council meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the top floor of City Hall, located at 78 Bayard Street in New Brunswick. Free parking is available behind the building.

Past coverage of the scandal-scarred New Brunswick Water Utility:

• In 2015, longtime New Brunswick Water Utility employee Edward O’Rourke confessed that for more than two years, he lied about testing the area’s drinking water, and knowingly submitted false water reports to the state Department of Environmental Protection. He was recently released after 9 months in jail. Read that story here: Lied About Testing New Brunswick's Drinking Water for Years, Prosecutors Say
• And just a few weeks ago, two more New Brunswick Water Utility were arrested. William Ortiz and Joseph DeBonis, were charged with bribery, official misconduct and tampering with public records, the city announced. They accepted $2,000 to reduce someone's water and sewer bills, police charge. Read that story here: 2 New Brunswick Water Employees Arrested
• In 2007, Water Utility Director Shawn Maloney committed suicide after learning he was the target of a federal corruption investigation. Read that story here: Utility Official Kills Himself After Learning About Subpoenas
• Earlier this year, New Brunswick Today won the prestigious Awbrey Award for Community-oriented Journalism for its coverage of the New Brunswick Water Utility, one of the most corrupt city institutions. Read those stories here: "Watergate: Cover-up at New Brunswick Water Utility."