South Bound Brook officer sues ex-cop who allegedly pointed loaded gun at him

SOUTH BOUND BROOK — With its police department under the control of the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office and its chief on leave because of a personnel matter, the borough is facing another legal battle involving the department.

Ryan Carideo, an officer in the department, filed a lawsuit Wednesday in federal court against the borough, former Chief Jeff Titus and former Officer Paul Romano, alleging his rights were violated and he suffered mental and physical injuries in an incident with Romano in 2021.

Carideo alleges that Romano pointed a loaded gun at him during an incident at police headquarters.

Carideo filed his suit a month after Romano filed a suit against the borough in Somerset County Superior Court, asking that he be reinstated to his job.

Earlier: South Bound Brook cop fired for being 'grossly negligent' with gun sues for job back

Carideo, in his lawsuit, calls Romano "an officer who is reckless and potentially dangerous" and the department was aware of other incidents and complaints from citizens and other officers about Romano.

In addition, Carideo's lawsuit charges that the borough and Titus practiced "superficial and shallow Internal Affairs processes which ignored evidence and patterns of police misconduct" and failed to discipline officers for violations.

The suit also alleges that Titus and other members of the police department were aware of other incidents where officers "customarily and frequently subjected citizens held in custody to physical and mental abuse; unlawfully and maliciously assaulted, arrested and harassed citizens; intentionally, recklessly and/or negligently misrepresented the facts of arrests and/or police-citizen encounters; falsified police and/or other official records; made false arrests and unlawful searches and seizures, mishandled and/or withheld evidence and/or used unreasonable and excessive force on citizens/arrestees." 

The lawsuit does not detail those allegations.  

The borough has yet to be served with Carideo's lawsuit. In its answer to Romano's litigation, the borough said it opposes Romano's request to be put back on the job on the basis of the "well-reasoned written opinion" of the hearing officer who heard the departmental disciplinary charges against Romano.

The two lawsuits focus on an incident at police headquarters on June 26, 2021.

At about 1:59 a.m. that day, Romano was dispatched to locate a wanted and potentially suicidal person, possibly armed with two handguns and a history of aggression against police officers, who was on his way from Florida to Westfield where he was reportedly going to confront his fiancé. A cellphone ping located the person on Main Street in South Bound Brook.

Then, according to Romano's disciplinary notice, Officer Ciro Lowder requested Romano to assist him in responding, but Romano, acting as supervisor, "disrespectfully" denied the request and responded alone.

Romano went to the QuickChek parking lot, located the individual and without waiting for backup from Carideo or other officers, approached the individual to take him into custody. That, the disciplinary notice alleges, allowed the person "to exit the vehicle in a fashion that provided him an opportunity to draw a weapon."

Romano allegedly told EMS personnel who responded to the scene that he approached the individual "gunslinger style."

After that incident later that day, Carideo confronted Romano at police headquarters about his actions.

Local news: Prosecutor's office assumes management of South Bound Brook Police Department

In his lawsuit, Carideo said he told Romano he handled the incident "poorly," created a "dangerous situation" and questioned his procedures.

Then, according to the lawsuit, Romano told Carideo "in this job you have to take risks" and, using a slang term, grab a suspect in the genital area.

Romano then "lunged forward" and put his hand in Carideo's groin area "as if he was going to grab him," the lawsuit says.

Then, the lawsuit says, Romano grabbed Carideo's vest and pointed his loaded service weapon directly at Carideo's chest.

Carideo told Romano to put the gun away. Romano complied then left police headquarters, the lawsuit says.

Carideo then told a sergeant about the incident, which then led to Romano being suspended. An investigation by the county prosecutor's office found no criminal charges would be brought against Romano, referring the matter back to the borough for administrative action.

In March, the hearing officer ruled Romano was guilty of the disciplinary charges brought against him and recommended he be fired.

In late March, the prosecutor's office assumed management of the police department because of an ongoing personnel matter involving Chief Rick Fittin.

Fittin was sworn in as chief in January to replace Titus, who retired. Details of the personnel matter have not been released.

Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com

Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.