🚔 MIDDLETOWN POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED OVER ALLEGED UNAUTHORIZED DATABASE ACCESS ⚖️
Middletown police officer Tony Perito was arrested for allegedly using a law enforcement database to access a woman’s mugshot and post it on social media. Perito has been suspended without pay and faces a third-degree computer theft charge.
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A Middletown Township police officer has been arrested and charged after authorities allege he improperly accessed a law enforcement database to obtain information about a woman.
Tony Perito, who has served with the Middletown Police Department for approximately nine years, was arrested on July 7 by detectives with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
According to Middletown police officials, Perito was charged with third-degree accessing data on a computer without authorization.
Investigators allege Perito accessed a woman’s mugshot through a law enforcement database and later posted the photograph on social media on April 4.
Following his arrest, Perito was processed and released on a summons pending further court proceedings.
🚨 The Middletown Police Department has suspended Perito without pay while the criminal charge is pending.
Perito has previously received recognition from the department. In 2022, he was commended after intervening in an alleged robbery while he was off duty and on vacation at the Chesapeake House travel plaza along Interstate 95 in Maryland.
According to reports from that incident, Perito intervened after three suspects allegedly assaulted a store clerk. He identified himself as an off-duty police officer and initially drew his firearm before putting it away in an effort to de-escalate the situation. The suspects then allegedly assaulted Perito before fleeing. They were later apprehended.
⚖️ The current charge against Perito is an accusation. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
📲 Garden State News Network The Garden State’s go-to source for what’s happening NOW.