The alleged assault on a borough man occurred at the borough police station, the Press reports.
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
A Little Silver police officer was arrested Thursday afternoon for allegedly hitting a handcuffed defendant and trying to get a witness lie about it, the Asbury Park Press reported today.
County authorities arrested Steven Solari, 36, and charged him with two counts of official misconduct, one count of aggravated assault, tampering with a witness, obstruction of justice and hindering apprehension, according to the Press.
The veteran officer allegedly got into a physical struggle with a man he arrested on December 20 and later hit the man, whom authorities have not identified, in the back several times while handcuffed at headquarters.
The Press reports that several days later, Solari tried to convince a witness to the assault to lie or withhold the truth in the investigation into the incident.
Little Silver police notified the Monmouth County Prosecutor‘s office, which began an investigation that resulted in Thursday’s arrest.
Little Silver Police Chief Shannon Giblin declined to comment on the situation and said all communications on the matter would go through the Prosecutor’s Office. Assistant Prosecutor Peter Warshaw was not immediately available for comment on Friday.
Recently, Solari was recognized for his DWI enforcement in Little Silver. From the Press story:
In June, Solari was among 74 New Jersey police officers honored by the New Jersey chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
In 2008, he had the highest percentage of DWI arrests in the county, according to Borough Council meeting minutes.
In September 2003, he was one of three Monmouth County police officers honored by the county’s Task Force on Drunk Driving. The officers were recognized for writing the most DWI tickets.
In 2002, he and another Little Silver officer were given the borough’s lifesaving award for performing CPR on a Shrewsbury firefighter who collapsed at the scene of a blaze.
Solari posted the $81,000 bail Friday morning, the newspaper reports.
Here’s the proscutor’s announcement, which adds that the man Solari arrested was treated for an injury suffered in the incident and was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest: 1810-solari-charged
