EDISON — A four-year veteran of the Edison Police Department is alleged to have tampered with evidence during a criminal investigation.
Nicholas R. Lunetta, 31, of Scotch Plains, was charged with one count of tampering with evidence and one count of obstructing the administration of law, both fourth degree crimes, according the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
The investigation by the Edison Police Department determined Lunetta allegedly tampered with and destroyed evidence he believed would be included in a pending official proceeding or investigation between March 20 to 23, the prosecutor’s office said.
Lunetta, who was previously a police officer in Madison Borough, Morris County, for about a year before coming to Edison in December 2014, turned himself into authorities at the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 13. He was charged on a summons and released pending his initial court appearance on Jan. 3, prosecutor’s office said.
He is currently suspended from the Edison Police Department without pay, the prosecutor’s office said. His annual salary is $75,000, according to township officials.
Anyone with information is asked to call Capt. Kenneth M. Schreck of the Edison Police Department at 732-248-7400, or Detective Joseph Chesseri of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-4335.