Resident seeks damages in 2007 police incident
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer

FREEHOLD — Attorneys representing a private citizen and Freehold Borough are working toward a resolution of a claim that was filed against several Freehold Borough police officers on Feb. 11, 2008.

According to a complaint filed by Melvin Love, of Center Street, he was outside his mother's house talking to two friends on June 6, 2007, when Patrolman (now sergeant) Christopher Colaner and Patrolman Christopher Otlowski drove by and "taunted" him.

The complaint states that Love responded to the officers' "taunts" by gesturing to them with his middle finger.

Shortly thereafter, the complaint states, Colaner, Otlowski and several other officers returned to the premises.

The document states that Colaner, Otlowski and unnamed police officers approached Love and said, "You want to give us the finger." The complaint claims the officers then "grabbed him (Love), threw him through a fence and Maced him."

Love was then arrested and brought to police headquarters where he was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He was processed and released, according to the complaint.

According to attorney Thomas Mallon, of Freehold, who is representing Love, the case is still pending, but is nearing resolution.

Attorney Joseph Morris, of the firm McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney and Carpenter, LLP, of Morristown, is representing the borough's insurance carrier in this matter.

Love's complaint states

that he sustained bodily harm as a result of what he called the officers' unlawful, malicious physical abuse. It states that he also suffered damages in the form of lost wages and medical expenses and claims he will suffer additional damages in the future in an amount yet to be determined.

Colaner has also been named in a civil lawsuit filed by Freehold Township resident Migdalia Irizarry, who accused the officer of improper conduct during a motor vehicle stop that occurred in Freehold Borough on Jan. 29, 2008. Irizarry's lawsuit remains pending.