March 04, 2015
A Washington Township police officer accused of targeting and unjustly arresting a state assemblyman on charges of drunk driving has been cleared.
According to the Associated Press , Officer Joseph DiBuonaventura faced more than a dozen varying charges, including official misconduct and tampering with records, stemming from a 2012 arrest of state Assemblyman Paul Moriarty for driving while intoxicated following an illegal traffic stop.
Moriarty has continually claimed his innocence, saying he was targeted, while DiBuonaventura, too, told NJ.com he was targeted for being a "whistleblower."
Following his acquittal Tuesday, which came after two full days of deliberation by a Gloucester County jury, DiBuonaventura told NJ.com he's happy with the outcome and plans to return to work with the department.
While the criminal cases stemming from the arrest are completed, he still faces administrative charges regarding his employment with the township, NJ.com reports.
DiBuonaventura has been suspended from the Washington Township department without pay since July 2012. He has civil case pending against the township and Police Chief Rafael Muniz.
Read the full NJ.com article here.
