BRIDGETON
— A Bridgeton police officer was arrested Tuesday and charged with stalking and harassment.
Officer Ron Caldwell, a man who Mayor Albert Kelly confirmed is a member of the Bridgeton Police Department, was allegedly involved in an incident in the parking lot of the Upper Deerfield Wawa with a woman who had a restraining order against him.
Sgt. Brian Polite, speaking from the headquarters of the New Jersey State Police, said Caldwell had been arrested Tuesday and charged with fourth-degree stalking and harassment, which is a disorderly persons offense.
Specific information about the incident was scarce.
“This department does not comment on personnel matters,” said a lieutenant at the
Bridgeton Police Department. He would not even confirm that a Ron Caldwell worked in the department.
Mayor Kelly, when asked whether Caldwell had been suspended or if the gun that he was issued for his duties had been taken away from him, said that he was not going to comment.
“I do not want to get on shaky ground as far as personnel issues,” he said.
Late Thursday afternoon, Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McCrae finally confirmed Caldwell had been suspended from the police department and had his gun taken away, though she could not say whether or not he was still receiving his paycheck.
Chief Mark Ott of the Bridgeton Police Department was not available for comment.