One Man Cleared In Brick Police Threat; 3rd Man Arrested

BRICK, NJ — A Brick Township man has been cleared of charges that accused him of threatening a Brick Township detective and his family, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday. But a third man has now been charged in the case, the prosecutor said.

Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said charges have been dismissed against Alexander Santos, 22, who had been arrested March 30 along with Anthony Chieffo, 25, of Brick, in connection with the threats against the detective and the detective's family.

Connor White, 22, of Brick, was arrested Thursday and charged with retaliation against a witness and three counts of terroristic threats, Billhimer said. He is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

"At the outset of this investigation, sufficient credible evidence pointed to Chieffo and Santos as the individuals that threatened the detective," Billhimer said. "As the investigation progressed, however, we were able to identify White as the second actor who participated with Chieffo in making those threats."

"Additional information discovered during the investigation was exculpatory as it relates to Santos," he said. "As such, the charges against Santos have been dismissed and he has been released from the Ocean County Jail."

On Monday, the detective reported receiving phone calls and text messages on his police department-issued cell phone threatening him and his family, Billhimer said. The investigation found the calls and texts came from Chieffo's phone, he said.

On Tuesday, detectives with the prosecutor's office pulled over a vehicle that Santos was driving; Chieffo was a passenger. The two were arrested and taken to Brick Township Police Headquarters and charged.

"Sufficient probable cause existed at the time of his arrest to support the filing of charges against Santos," the prosecutor's office said. But it was the continuing investigation that showed White was the second person involved with making the threats, Billhimer said.

"In light of the recent developments regarding this investigation, and in the interests of justice, the charges against Santos have been administratively dismissed," the prosecutor's office said.

Chieffo remains in the Ocean County Jail awaiting his detention hearing.

Billhimer thanked the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and High Tech Crime Unit, and the Brick Township Police Department for their efforts in the investigation.

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