MAYS LANDING- A 25 year-old Atlantic Justice Facility Correctional Police Officer is charged with second degree Official Misconduct following a joint investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Atlantic County Justice Facility (ACJF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.
Over a period of several months the joint investigation determined that Luis A. Mercado of Galloway Township used his position as a correctional police officer at the ACJF to smuggle contraband, which included narcotics and cell phones, into the Atlantic County Justice Facility and used his position therein to further a criminal organization. A detention hearing was held on Oct. 2, 2020, and at that time Mercado was released. Mercado is suspended without pay.
***These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.
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