Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Chief Scott Cartmell of the Piscataway Police Department said that a township police officer was criminally charged yesterday with assault and tampering with official records to conceal wrongdoing.
According to officials, authorities arrested and charged Piscataway Police Officer Todd Ritter, 54, of Millstone, with one count of tampering with public records in the third degree, one count of falsifying and tampering with records in the fourth degree, and one count of assault, a disorderly persons offense.
During the investigation it was determined that while on official duty Officer Ritter struck a suspect who was detained in a patrol car. Police said Ritter then falsified a police record by entering inaccurate information in an attempt to conceal his actions.
According to authorities, officials served Ritter with summonses and is scheduled to appear for an initial court date at Middlesex County Superior Court on Mar.15th.
Police said Ritter has been suspended from the Piscataway Police Department without pay, as a result of the criminal charges brought against him.
The investigation is active and is continuing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Zebib of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-4274, or Lieutenant Morrison of the Piscataway Police Department at (732) 562-1100.
As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Ritter are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.