BRICK – Another man has been charged for Terroristic Threats in connection with threats made against a Brick Township Police Detective. One man was cleared of charges.
Police have previously charged Brick Township residents Anthony Chieffo, 25, and Alexander Santos, 22, each with Retaliation Against a Witness and three counts of Terroristic Threats. After further investigation, it was revealed that a third man, Connor White, 22, of Brick Township, was also involved.
On March 29, a Brick Township Police Detective stated he was receiving threatening phone calls and text messages on his police department-issued cellular phone, with the threats aimed at the detective and members of his family.
After conducting an investigation, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit found the threatening calls and text messages to be coming from Chieffo’s cell phone.
On March 30, police performed a motor vehicle stop on Santos with Chieffo in the passenger seat. Both were then taken into custody and transported to Brick Township Police Headquarters where they were charged accordingly.
Police continued the investigation, which revealed that White, not Santos, was the second individual who participated in making the threats against the Brick Detective.
White was taken into custody on April 1 and charged with Retaliation Against a Witness and three counts of Terroristic Threats. He is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
The charges against Santos have been dismissed and he has been released from the Ocean County Jail. Chieffo continues to remain in the Ocean County Jail awaiting his detention hearing.
“At the outset of this investigation, sufficient credible evidence pointed to Chieffo and Santos as the individuals that threatened the Detective,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. “As the investigation progressed, however, we were able to identify White as the second actor who participated with Chieffo in making those threats. Additional information discovered during the investigation was exculpatory as it relates to Santos. As such, the charges against Santos have been dismissed and he has been released from the Ocean County Jail.”
Prosecutor Billhimer continues to acknowledge the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, and Brick Township Police Department for their cooperative efforts relative to this investigation.
The press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
