Somerset County has new acting prosecutor with Thomas Chirichella
SOMERVILLE – Somerset County has a new acting prosecutor.
At midday Friday, Annmarie Taggart, the deputy director of the Division of Felony Justice in the point out Legal professional General’s Business office, was sworn in as acting Somerset County prosecutor, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Place of work declared.
“We thank Thomas Chirichella for his willingness to move in as performing prosecutor in the course of a period of time of transition he carries on to be an critical portion of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office environment,” the Legal professional General’s Workplace said in an electronic mail assertion.
The appointment arrives following Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson, who experienced served due to the fact 2016, resigned near the conclusion of his phrase in late January to come to be a associate in an Essex County law business.
Chirichella, a veteran in the workplace, was named performing prosecutor.
Gov. Phil Murphy has but to nominate a lasting successor to Robertson.
Superior on the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office environment agenda is an investigation into Bridgewater Police Department’s reaction to a fight involving two teenagers at the Bridgewater Commons shopping mall previously this year.
A now viral online video of the combat demonstrates two Bridgewater law enforcement officers breaking up the scuffle, with a person officer wrestling a Black teenager to the flooring although the other teen, a Hispanic, was seated on a couch by a feminine officer.
‘Not here in Bridgewater’: Local community leaders, inhabitants audio off on shopping mall arrest
Additional:Somerset County gets $1 million for Easton Avenue targeted visitors security study
Local:Journey + Leisure journal names Somerset County a top low cost trip spot
The Place of work of General public Integrity and Accountability in the Attorney General’s Business office is doing work closely with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Business office, which is conducting this investigation. The investigation is ongoing and no even more data was introduced at this time.
Marches and protest have been held in Bridgewater condemning the law enforcement officers actions, which have been questioned as racially inspired.
Bridgewater law enforcement have identified as for an inside affairs investigation.
“We have requested that the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Business support us in this make a difference and are requesting persistence as we strictly adhere to the New Jersey Legal professional General’s Internal Affairs,” Bridgewater police explained in a statement after the incident.
Last thirty day period civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is symbolizing the Black teen, announced his authorized workforce is looking at submitting a lawsuit in federal court docket boasting the arrest and use of power violated the teen’s constitutional appropriate to equivalent safety less than the law.
The prosecutor’s office also assumed administration of the South Certain Brook Police Department previous week because of an ongoing personnel issue involving Chief Rick Fittin.
E mail: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com masking criminal offense, courts and other mayhem. To get endless entry, please subscribe or activate your electronic account now.