SECAUCUS AND BEYOND — The government called its final witness on Monday in the corruption trial of former Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell (see related stories via links below).
Thomas Coyle, Arrest Team Leader for the FBI, was the final witness. The prosecution asked Agent Coyle to describe alleged utterances heard from Elwell the day of his arrest July 23, 2009.
The agent testified that Elwell was read his Miranda rights and chose to speak to his attorney.
Coyle alleged that after being read his rights, Elwell, sitting in his kitchen, said, “I should have never taken the money.”
Coyle testified that he had not solicited the response from Elwell. He also said Elwell’s wife was in the kitchen and that his daughter had come in at certain times. His granddaughter was also in the house.
Agent Coyle said that later, at the processing center, Elwell allegedly said, “I should have never taken the f—-n’ money.”
Agent Coyle said he would later say, “that f—–g money” as he sat adjacent to him in a waiting room before going to the US Marshall.
The arrest was made at approximately 6:15 am. Six agents arrived at Elwell’s home wearing body armor and carrying weapons.
The defense attorney pushed in his cross examination that the utterance could not be “casual” if Elwell knew he was under arrest and had been read his Miranda rights.
The defense will call Elwell’s wife Annette and his daughter in this regard.
Elwell sat in a light gray suit with a pink striped tie throughout the trial today. His wife and daughter had to leave the courtroom during Agent Coyle’s testimony.