Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced the arrest of Cpl. Justin Cherry of the Tuckerton Borough Police Department. Cherry is charged with official misconduct, a second degree crime, and aggravated assault, a third degree crime. He surrendered in the presence of his attorney, Robert W. Rosenberg on Wednesday.
The charges stem from Cherry’s involvement in the arrest of a 57 year-old Barnegat Township resident in Barnegat on January 29, 2014. The woman allegedly failed to stop after Cherry activated his police vehicle’s emergency lights while the woman was driving in Tuckerton. The woman drove from Tuckerton to the parking lot of the Barnegat Township Municipal Complex where she was taken into custody by two officers from the Barnegat Police Department. It is alleged that Cherry was present in Barnegat at the scene of her arrest and unjustifiably allowed his K-9 to attack and bite the woman. It is also alleged that Cherry falsified his police reports in an effort to conceal or justify his improper actions.
Cherry’s bail was set at $15,000 no 10% by the Honorable Francis R. Hodgson, Jr., J.S.C. Cherry posted bail and was released pending further court proceedings.
