Grand jury indictment for allegedly shoplifting a nutrition bar from a convenience store
By: Greg Forester
MONTGOMERY A Somerset County grand jury returned an indictment Thursday against a Montgomery Township police officer charging him with shoplifting and official misconduct following an April incident at a Montgomery convenience store.
The officer, 32-year old Christopher Jaeger, is accused of taking a nutrition bar from the Wawa convenience store at Route 206 and 518 without paying while on duty, in full uniform, in early April.
Montgomery Police Director Michael Beltranena said Officer Jaeger had been suspended without pay and could face further action depending on the result of the charges following the incident at the store.
"If he is convicted of the charges, Officer Jaeger will be forced to forfeit his office with the Montgomery Police Department," said Mr. Beltranena.
Officer Jaeger, a Hillsborough resident, has been working with Montgomery police for 10 years, including stints as a patrolman and in the department’s detective bureau.
"Officer Jaeger has received numerous commendations for his work on patrol, his investigating, and his community policing work," said Mr. Beltranena.
Before joining the Montgomery Police Department, Officer Jaeger had attended Somerset County Police Academy and Raritan Valley Community College.
He had also spent time serving on the Somerset County SWAT team.
The shoplifting charge carries possible penalties of up to six months incarceration and $1,000 in fines, while the official misconduct charge could result in up to 10 years incarceration and a $150,000 fine.

