SEASIDE HEIGHTS PARKING AUTHORITY SUPERVISOR CHARGED WITH EFFORT TO HIDE STRIKING CYCLIST WITH TOWNSHIP VEHICLE

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  Follow the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor online at Twitter and Facebook.  The social media links provided are for reference only.  The OCPO does not endorse any non-governmental websites, companies or applications.  For additional information visit our website at oceancountyprosecutor.org.  Please send all press inquiries to Al Della Fave 732-288-7616 (OFFICE) 732-814-7347 (CELL) and [email protected].

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Seaside Heights Police Chief Thomas Boyd today announced the arrest of Todd M. Genty, 54, of Seaside Heights.  Genty is charged with violating the following criminal statutes: Witness Tampering and Evidence Tampering.  He has also been charged with Title 39 Motor Vehicle violations: Failure to Stop, Leaving the Scene of an Accident and Failure to Report an Accident.

Genty’s arrest stems from his involvement in a motor vehicle collision with a bicyclist on January 19, 2018 in Seaside Heights.  On that date, at approximately 4:32p.m., a male later identified as Robert C. Lay, 66, of Seaside Heights, went to Seaside Heights Police headquarters to report a collision during which he was struck by a Seaside Heights township vehicle.  Lay stated that while riding his bicycle north on the boulevard at approximately 3p.m., he was struck at the corner of Dupont Avenue.  Lay stated that the impact knocked him to the ground.  Lay reported that he was struck by what he believed to be a Seaside Heights Police vehicle.  He stated further that while he was on the ground, the vehicle drove past him and parked.  The driver then allegedly exited the vehicle, approached him, and began to yell at him.  Lay alleged that the driver called him a drunk, and said that the collision was Lay’s fault.  Lay went on to report that the driver allegedly agreed to ”make things right” by giving Lay cash and replacing his damaged bicycle.  While relating the event to Seaside Police, Lay complained of pain to the back area of his head.  Tri-Boro First Aid Squad was contacted and responded to examine Lay.  While being treated, Lay refused to be transported to the hospital for any further treatment at that time.  Lay ended his statement by saying that the unidentified driver never called for assistance and never asked if Lay needed any first aid.  Allegedly, the bicycle he was riding was placed against a wall, and both he and the driver left the scene.

Seaside Police Ptl. Chris Linnell immediately initiated an investigation into Lay’s report.  The investigation confirmed that the collision took place, the date, time and location of the collision, as well as the identity of the driver and the borough vehicle involved.  Ptl. Linnell found the involved vehicle was assigned and operated at the time of the collision by Seaside Heights Parking Enforcement Supervisor Todd M. Genty, who failed to contact headquarters by radio or phone regarding the incident.  Ptl. Linnell related the results of his investigation to Detective Stephen Korman of the Seaside Heights Police Office of Professional Responsibility.

Korman and Linnell determined that Genty replaced Lay’s damaged bicycle with a bicycle taken from the police department’s temporary evidence / property area.  The victim positively identified a photo of his bicycle that was damaged during the accident in addition to a photo of a bicycle that he found upon his arrival at his residence after the collision. This bicycle was confirmed to be a bicycle that was located within the police department’s temporary evidence / property area.

At that time, Chief Boyd directed Detective Korman to turn the investigation over to the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor to avoid any conflict of interest and for further review.  After reviewing the case evidence, Senior Assistant Prosecutor William Scharfenberg approved the above charges against Genty.

Genty, accompanied by his attorney, Jeffrey Caccese Esq of the Comegno Law Group in Morristown, surrendered at Seaside Heights Police Headquarters.  He was charged and released on a summons to answer the charges at a future date. The media and the public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.