The mayor of Clark, New Jersey, Salvator Bonaccorso, is currently facing criminal charges for allegedly making racial slurs and operating his landscaping and illegal tank removal business from his township office. According to Attorney General Matthew Platkin, Bonaccorso used municipal resources to run the company and engaged in witness tampering and falsifying records. The charges also include fraudulently using an engineer’s name, license number, and forging a signature on permit applications.

The investigation that led to these charges was sparked by allegations of racist comments made by the mayor in relation to the police department. Officials from Clark Township and the mayor’s residence declined to comment on the charges. However, a resident named Debbie Flanagan called for Bonaccorso’s resignation while others praised him for his work before the charges were announced.

Platkin also revealed that the criminal charges against Bonaccorso were a result of another investigation into the police department and its chief. He reported that there was a disproportionately high arrest rate for Black individuals despite no comment from the police department or officials. Additionally, Platkin recommended changes to the police department and called for the resignation or firing of the police chief, which can only be done by the mayor.