SEASIDE HEIGHTS – A township employee, who is also a Board of Education member, was arrested and charged with multiple violations after police said he struck a bicyclist with his township vehicle and didn’t report it.
Todd Genty, 54, works as a parking enforcement supervisor. He is also listed as the president of the Seaside Heights Board of Education on its web site.
Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Seaside Heights Police Chief Thomas Boyd sent out a press release announcing his arrest and stating he was charged with Witness Tampering and Evidence Tampering, as well as motor vehicle violations Failure to Stop, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Failure to Report an Accident.
The incident happened on Jan. 19. A bicyclist, Robert Lay, 66, of Seaside Heights was riding on the Boulevard at around 3 p.m. when he was struck by a vehicle near the intersection with Dupont Avenue. He came into the police department, stating that it was a police vehicle.
The police investigation determined that it was the parking enforcement vehicle, a 2011 Ford Explorer.
He told police that the driver, later identified as Genty, blamed the bicyclist, calling him a drunk. Then, Genty allegedly agreed to “make things right” by giving Lay money and replacing his bicycle.
Lay said he was knocked to the ground by the collision. He complained of pain in the back of his head. Tri-Boro First Aid Squad examined him, but he refused to be transported to the hospital.
Seaside Police Ptl. Chris Linnell was able to confirm the time, date and location of the collision. He then was able to find out the vehicle and the driver.
Genty had failed to contact headquarters by radio or phone about the incident, according to a report Linnell gave to Detective Stephen Korman of the Seaside Heights Police Office of Professional Responsibility.
Furthermore, the two officers learned that Genty took a bicycle from the police department’s area for temporary evidence or property and left it at Lay’s residence, as a replacement for the damaged one.
Seaside police sent the case to the Ocean County Prosecutor to avoid any conflict of interest. The charges against Genty were levied by Senior Assistant Prosecutor William Scharfenberg.
Genty surrendered at Seaside Heights Police Headquarters, accompanied by his attorney, Jeffrey Caccese Esq of the Comegno Law Group in Morristown.
