Prosecutor recommends administrative action in vice-principal incident
Hudson County Prosecutor Ed DeFazio recommended last week that the North Bergen Police Department take some kind of administrative action against a police officer who allegedly drove a school vice principal away from the scene of an accident last year before an investigation could be completed. The vice principal’s Jeep had allegedly hit a parked car in the wee hours of the morning, DeFazio confirmed.
NJ.com reported that Officer Frank Mena allegedly drove North Bergen High School Vice Principal Edward Somick away from the scene of a crash at 1:45 a.m. on Dec. 18 in which Somick’s Jeep allegedly hit a parked pickup truck, which then hit another parked car. The crash occurred at Kennedy Blvd. near 70th Street.
DeFazio said last week that Mena’s actions did not rise to the level of a crime. He would not elaborate on what Mena may have done wrong to require a recommendation of administrative action, saying that it’s now an internal affairs matter.
He confirmed that Somick said he had swerved to avoid an animal, and that he was not given a sobriety test. No charges were filed against Somick.
When asked why Somick wasn’t given a test, DeFazio said that a review was conducted and that this was among the issues studied during the review. “All of that was part of the review and subsequent investigation,” he said.
When asked why Mena responded, DeFazio said, “[The officer] was working, he was on duty, and he is assigned to traffic detail. He responded to the accident.”
News reports have said that Somick is a close friend of the family of Mayor Nicholas Sacco, who is also an assistant superintendent in the school district.
North Bergen spokesman Philip Swibinski said yesterday that the mayor had no comment on those reports or on the incident. “It’s an internal police personnel matter and is being handled internally,” Swibinski said.
Former official pleads guilty in corruption sting involving ex-Secaucus mayor
A North Bergen man who used to be an investigator for the Hudson County Board of Elections pleaded guilty Tuesday to a bribery charge, according to the Associated Press.
Denis Jaslow said in federal court in Newark that in 2009 he agreed to give a $10,000 bribe to the then-Mayor of Secaucus, Dennis Elwell, on behalf of purported real estate developer Solomon Dwek, who was really an undercover FBI informant. On Tuesday, Jaslow admitted he accepted a $5,000 cash bribe in exchange for helping Dwek gain access to public officials in Hudson County.
Elwell himself has pleaded not guilty in the sting operation and has maintained his innocence.
Last month Elwell associate and Bayonne businessman Ron Manzo pleaded guilty to allegedly conspiring with Elwell and former Jersey City Housing Authority Commissioner Ed Cheatam to obtain a corrupt cash payment of $10,000 in exchange for Elwell’s alleged help with a real estate deal in Secaucus. Cheatam pleaded guilty in September 2009.
Elwell and Manzo had been scheduled to go to trial together later this month. Elwell will now stand trial alone.
The former mayor stands accused of allegedly taking a $10,000 cash bribe from Dwek.
Elwell’s trial is scheduled to begin on June 20 in U.S. District Court. He intends to fight the charges against him, although three of his associates; Cheatham, Manzo, and now Jaslow have pleaded guilty.
Elwell’s attorney, Jeffrey Garrigan, did not return a phone call by press time.
State Fair Meadowlands job fair this weekend
State Fair Meadowlands was planning to hold a job fair this weekend to fill positions for its 19-day fair at the Meadowlands Fairgrounds, which runs from June 24-July 10. The fair is looking for friendly workers interested in being fair ambassadors, hospitality workers, food handlers, concession workers, ride workers, and ticket sellers. Applications can be downloaded at www.njfair.com. Interested individuals were encouraged to complete an application and attend a job fair, where the hiring process would be conducted.
The fair was planned for Saturday, June 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The New Meadowlands “Flea” Market, Meadowlands Sports Complex, 50 State Highway 120 – Plaza J, East Rutherford. For more information and requirements, see the website. Applicants for all positions are required to work in all weather conditions, and the minimum age for applicants is 18.