Lt. Benito Gonzalez Jr. was
removed from duty and charged with a disorderly persons lewdness offense.
By Evan Bleier
CHERRY HILL, N.J., May 21 (UPI)
--A New Jersey police officer has been removed from duty after he was accused
of masturbating inside of a Starbucks while he was off the clock.
Camden County Police Lt. Benito
Gonzalez Jr. has been charged with a disorderly persons lewdness offense after
an employee from one of the chain's locations in Cherry Hill contacted
authorities.
During the incident, Gonzalez
allegedly pulled down his shorts while sitting at a table and exposed himself
while "knowing or reasonably expecting that the act was likely to be
observed by a non-consenting person who likely would be affronted or
alarmed," the Daily Journal reported.
Gonzalez was arrested after his
picture was posted on the police department's Facebook page.
"We are deeply troubled by
the allegations of this off-duty conduct. A swift and thorough investigation is
being conducted," Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson said in a
statement. "We are working to ascertain all of the facts in this matter
with Cherry Hill Police Department and the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.
The officer has been removed from duty and suspended without pay."
