Marlboro Cop Accused Of Beating Colts Neck Women, Breaking Her Face

A Marlboro Police Officer is accused of punching a Colts Neck woman in the face, breaking her orbital and then falsely arresting and imprisoning the woman, according to a federal lawsuit filed in Trenton last week.

Officers Donna Gonzalez and Joseph Meglio forced themselves into the Colts Neck home of Marlene Mazur on January 24, 2016 in response to a dispatch call reporting an argument between a man and a women, according the the suit filed by Freehold attorney Thomas Mallon on behalf of Mazur.  The complaint says that Mazur’s husband had gotten her car stuck in the snow and that by the time the Marlboro officers arrived at the Boundary Road home, the husband and their son had dug out the car and parked it in the garage.

Gonzalez and Meglio entered the home and demanded to speak to the husband. Gonzalez pushed Mazur against a wall and gestured as if she was going to punch her while Meglio followed the son upstairs and entered a room where the son’s children were staying.

Mazur demanded that the Marboro officers get a warrant and leave her home.  The officers prevented Mazur from calling the Colts Neck Police. Gonzalez pushed Mazur, punched her in the face and knocked her to the floor.

Mazur suffered a fractured left orbit which required reconstructive surgery.  A MVR recording of the incident recorded Meglio and/or other unnamed officers commending Gonzalez for the “nice shot.”

Mazur was arrested and charged with Obstructing the Administration of Law and Assaulting a Police Officer. A Monmouth County Grand Jury declined to indict Mazur and the case was sent to Colts Neck Municipal Court where it is still pending.

Mazur is suing the Township of Marlboro, the Marlboro Police Department, Gonzalez, Meglio, Chief Bruce Hill and up to 16 John Does employed by the Township and/or the Police Department.  The counts are Excessive Use of Force, Illegal Search and Seizure, False Arrest/Imprisonment, Failure to Intervene, Malicious Prosecution, Supervisory Liability and Violations of the New Jersey Civil Rights Act.

Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik declined to comment on the litigation and said he has complete faith in the Township’s Police Department.

In a separate suit file last week in Monmouth County Superior Court, Gonzalez is suing the Township and the Police Department for SexDiscrimination, Racial Discrimination,Discrimination against a perceived disability, Retaliation, Hostile Work Environment, and violations of the Conscientious Employees Protection Act.