The investigation into a New Jersey car crash last fall resulted in the suspension of the local police chief and one of his officers, and prosecutors have now completed a report on the matter.
On the night of Nov. 9, Sgt. William Major was present at what appeared to be an alcohol-related car accident in Bradley Beach, New Jersey, about 70 miles up the coast from Atlantic City.The major and other officers appeared to be doing their jobs when the police chief arrived. Leonard Guida He suddenly appeared on the scene wearing civilian clothes. It is unclear whether he was on duty at the time.
In any case, Guida immediately took issue with the Major’s attire, claiming that his police jacket was “not suitable for wear.” “Just get rid of it,” Guida said, according to the officer’s body camera footage. “That’s ridiculous. You’re a sergeant for God’s sake.”
Body camera footage shows that the major was irritated by Guida’s presence, but that frustration boiled over when Guida apparently grabbed the major’s arm, or at least attempted to do so. In response, the major grabbed Guida by the torso and threw him onto the hood of a police cruiser, video showed. Then he shoved her too.
“Don’t touch me!” cried the Major.
“Chief, get out of here or you’ll be locked up,” the major continued. “Chief, you’re going to be locked up. You’ve got me. I told you three times to leave me alone. You’re interfering with my DWI. …You’ve got me. . You were out of line. It’s on video. I’m not going to argue.”
At one point, the Major is heard muttering “I’m drunk again” in reference to Guida. Guida’s behavior in the video footage suggests he may have been under the influence.
Guida suspended the major on the spot and ordered him to return to police headquarters to discuss the matter further. The major refused, arguing that if he was really going to be suspended, he didn’t need it.
Footage of the incident taken from the major’s body camera can be seen in the video below.
The major appears to have been briefly suspended, but has since returned to duty. Meanwhile, Guida took paid leave immediately after the incident and continues to do so. Guida reportedly earns at least $174,000 a year as chief, and possibly as much as $204,000.
national guidelines Requires the county prosecutor’s office to investigate all charges against police chiefs within its jurisdiction. On Wednesday, Bradley Beach Mayor Larry Fox confirmed that the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office had submitted a report on the incident to the borough for “review.”
“We fully expect that the actions we have taken, and any additional actions pending in Bradley Beach, will collectively resolve this issue.” statement Partial reading from the public prosecutor’s office.
Fox said the district will now review the report and determine the appropriate outcome. Those impacts will be announced next week and will hopefully bring “closure” to the community, Fox said.
Both Major and Guida declined to comment to News 12. Star News also reached out to Capt. James Arnold, who has been commanding the department in Guida’s absence. Arnold likewise declined to comment.
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