TOMS RIVER – A violent Bayville home invasion carried out by an off-duty Toms River police officer has expanded into a far-reaching civil lawsuit accusing multiple law enforcement agencies and personnel of negligence, misconduct, and the misuse of police authority. The verified complaint was filed in Ocean County Superior Court on January 9, just one week before the former officer is due back in court for sentencing.
The lawsuit centers on former Toms River Police Officer Rebecca Sayegh, 32, who pleaded guilty late last year to burglary, criminal mischief, and simple assault stemming from an April 25, 2025 incident. Prosecutors have said they intend to seek a 180-day county jail sentence as a condition of probation when Sayegh returns to court on January 16, along with restitution and a no-contact order. Her plea agreement required the immediate forfeiture of her job with the Toms River Police Department and permanently bars her from public employment in New Jersey.
The civil complaint was filed on behalf of Anthony Chiarello, a detective with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, and Brianna Grochowski, a Montclair Police Department detective. In addition to Sayegh, the lawsuit names Berkeley Township, Berkeley Township Police Department, Toms River Township; the Toms River Police Department; former Berkeley Township police officer Kyle Huhn, and former Toms River Police Department dispatcher Joseph Lord. The allegations remain unproven unless established in court.
Escalation Alleged Before Break-In
According to the complaint, the April 25 incident followed weeks of escalating behavior. Sayegh and Chiarello were previously in a romantic relationship that ended approximately two years earlier. Plaintiffs allege that when Sayegh learned Chiarello was in a new relationship, she began harassing and threatening him through text messages.
The lawsuit alleges Sayegh repeatedly demanded the identity of Chiarello’s new girlfriend and texted “your windows are gonna get smashed in if you don’t tell me,” and that she would “call Berkeley [PD] myself before I do it too.”
Chiarello claims he alerted Sayegh’s brother, a police sergeant, to the threats. According to the complaint, the brother contacted the Toms River Police Department and also reached out to Joseph Lord, a dispatcher who was allegedly working on duty with Sayegh at the time. Chiarello further alleges he personally contacted Lord to ensure law enforcement was aware of the situation.
Police Vehicle Seen Before Attack
On the night of April 25, Chiarello and Grochowski were inside Chiarello’s Bayville home shortly before 11 p.m. when a marked Berkeley Township police vehicle allegedly drove past the residence twice within minutes. Surveillance footage from the home reportedly captured both passes.
The complaint alleges the vehicle was driven by Kyle Huhn, a Berkeley Township police officer at the time and a known friend of Sayegh. Plaintiffs claim the second pass was used to observe vehicles parked at the home and obtain license plate information.
Within minutes, Sayegh allegedly contacted Grochowski by phone. When the call was not answered, the lawsuit states Sayegh drove to the Bayville residence uninvited, arriving around 11:16 pm. Plaintiffs allege she removed her Toms River Police Department-issued baton from her vehicle and began yelling for the occupants to let her inside.
Forced Entry And Assault Alleged
According to the complaint, Sayegh used the baton to vandalize Chiarello’s department-issued vehicle and then shattered the glass of the home’s front door. Chiarello called 911 to report a domestic disturbance.
Before police arrived, the lawsuit alleges Sayegh reached through the broken glass, unlocked the door, and forced her way into the home. Inside, she is accused of assaulting both plaintiffs and attempting to strangle Grochowski.
Grochowski, who is trained in defensive tactics and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, allegedly used a compliance hold to stop the attack. She sustained a laceration and swelling to her eye during the struggle. After breaking free, Sayegh is accused of throwing objects, pushing Chiarello, and running upstairs as police began to arrive.
Police Response Under Scrutiny
The civil complaint raises serious concerns about the police response. Huhn is alleged to have arrived approximately seven minutes after the 911 call, despite being nearby. Plaintiffs claim his body-worn camera was not properly activated.
Rather than first checking on the victims, the complaint alleges Huhn entered the home and spoke privately with Sayegh for several minutes. According to the lawsuit, he initially appeared to allow her to leave the scene despite signs of intoxication and the seriousness of the alleged offenses.
Additional Berkeley Township officers eventually arrived, including Sergeant Michael Tanis. The complaint alleges Tanis ordered Huhn to arrest Sayegh, but Huhn refused multiple times before being removed from the scene. Sayegh was ultimately arrested.
When Chiarello showed Tanis surveillance footage of the marked police vehicle passing the home prior to the attack, Tanis allegedly reacted quietly, uttering, “Jesus Christ.”
Arrest, Release, And Ongoing Fear
The lawsuit claims further procedural failures followed the arrest. Plaintiffs allege Sayegh was not properly searched and was allowed to retain her Apple Watch while in custody, enabling communication that should not have been permitted.
Sayegh was charged on a summons and released the same night. Plaintiffs allege they spent the remainder of the night in fear, covering their shattered front door with garbage bags and worrying she would return.
During the arrest, Sayegh allegedly made threats about returning to the home to “burn the house down.”
Alleged Misuse Of Police Databases
A central allegation in the lawsuit involves the improper access and sharing of Grochowski’s license plate information. Plaintiffs allege Huhn provided the plate number to Sayegh, who then contacted dispatcher Joseph Lord. Lord is accused of running the plate through law enforcement databases and providing Grochowski’s identifying information for non-law-enforcement purposes.
The complaint alleges that information allowed Sayegh to identify Grochowski by name before entering the home, confirming she was the specific target of the attack.
Professional And Emotional Impact
Chiarello and Grochowski allege the incident caused lasting physical, emotional, and professional harm. Grochowski reportedly required medical treatment, took administrative leave from work, and withdrew from teaching defensive tactics at a police academy.
Chiarello alleges reputational damage and says the incident affected his participation in a promotional process within his department. Both plaintiffs claim ongoing anxiety and fear, particularly when encountering officers connected to the incident.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages and alleges negligence, assault, invasion of privacy, civil conspiracy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
