Police Officer Accused Of Sexting Woman

A police officer has been charged with harassment after allegedly sexting an 18-year-old woman and trying to arrange a meeting with her hours after he arrested her. 

Damien Broschart was charged with fourth-degree cyber harassment and third-degree hindering apprehension of oneself, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said in a news release. Broschart faces being fired.

Broschart, who has worked in law enforcement for five years, was suspended without pay from the Neptune City Police Department. Broschart stopped the woman's car this month and arrested her on drug charges and several traffic violations, authorities said.

After she was processed and released, Broschart took her back to her car, deactivated his body camera and mobile video recorder and asked for her phone number, the prosecutor's office said.

Broschart sent her text messages, including some that were sexual in nature, and indicated he thought she was cute and would like to pay her back for everything. Broschart went on to send sexually explicit messages and tried to meet her at her home after his shift ended, but she refused and ended the communications.

She blocked his phone number, but he called her three times from the police department and left a message requesting a call back, authorities said. She did not return any of his calls, and instead reported Broschart.

Police Chief Matthew Quagliato said the department began an internal affairs investigation and contacted the prosecutor’s office upon learning of the allegations. He said Broschart's alleged actions were completely unacceptable and do not reflect on the great work done on a daily basis by the remaining officers.

Broschart could not immediately be reached for comment, and did not return a request for comment via Facebook. He faces three to five years in prison if convicted of hindering apprehension of oneself and up to 18 months if convicted of cyberharassment.