Sea Bright Police Officer Admits Slashing Ex-Girlfriend's Tires

SEA BRIGHT, NJ ? A former Sea Bright police officer has admitted to stalking his ex-girlfriend, disabling the security cameras on her home, slashing her tires and keying her car, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced Wednesday.

The police officer is Erich Bennett, 47. He pleaded guilty late last week to third-degree computer theft, third-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree hindering apprehension and fourth-degree stalking.

As part of his guilty plea, Bennett acknowledged that between October 2022 and January 2023, he "engaged in a course of conduct that would put the victim in fear," said the prosecutor, including at one point disabling security cameras on the exterior of her home and slashing her tires and keying her car.

He further admitted to driving by her home and threatening her with physical harm, both in person and via a fake social media account. Additionally, Bennett admitted that while he was on duty with the Sea Bright Police Department, he conducted unauthorized lookups of the victim and four of her associates in law enforcement databases, absent any legitimate law enforcement purpose.

Bennett was arrested without incident in late January 2023. He currently remains incarcerated in the Monmouth County jail. As part of his plea, he permanently forfeited the right to hold any public office in the state of New Jersey.

Sentencing in the case has been tentatively scheduled for November 3; the Monmouth County Prosecutor said he intends to ask for five years in state prison.

Also, as part of his plea agreement Bennett will also have to submit to surrender his privately owned firearms, follow a permanent restraining order barring him from contact with the victim and pay her restitution in the amount of nearly $4,800.

The case was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco, Director of the MCPO Professional Responsibility Unit. Bennett was represented by Mitchell Ansell, Esq., with an office in Ocean Township.

Sea Bright Police Officer Accused Of Stalking Ex-Girlfriend, Vandalism (Jan. 2023)