NJ Cop Went To ATM Instead Of Responding To 911 Calls Of Double Murder: Prosecutor

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ — A police sergeant in Hunterdon County who was supposed to be responding to a 911 call for gunshots and screaming is accused of instead driving in the opposite direction to an ATM to make a transaction, said Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson.

Franklin Township Police Sgt. Kevin Bollaro is facing charges of official misconduct and tampering with records in connection with his response to calls for service on Aug. 1. The following morning, veterinarian Lauren Semanchik and her firefighter boyfriend, Tyler Webb were later found murdered by her ex, an NJ state trooper.

An investigation by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office shared a timeline of the events on that night:

• On Aug. 1, at around 7:08 p.m., an individual from 41 Upper Kingtown Road, Pittstown, called to report gunshots and screaming
• On-duty officer, Sgt. Kevin Bollaro was notified, yet data from global positioning systems (GPS) and surveillance footage found that instead of immediately responding to the call for service, Bollaro drove about 1.5 miles in the opposite direction of the caller’s location to the TD Bank on Route 31 in Clinton Township, at which he conducted a personal ATM transaction
• About five minutes after the first call, a second caller from 5 White Bridge Road reported gunshots and screaming, which was relayed to and acknowledged by Bollaro, who was continuing his ATM transaction
• Bollaro then left the TD Bank and drove towards the locations without activating his police vehicle’s emergency lights and sirens
• About five minutes after the second call, a third caller from 18 Upper Kingtown Road reported gunshots and screaming, which was relayed to and acknowledged by Bollaro
• About eight minutes later, GPS data located Bollaro at 41 Upper Kingtown Road, presumably where he was speaking with the first caller for about four to six minutes. However, because Bollaro failed to activate his body-worn camera, the precise length of this interaction is unknown
• From the time of the first dispatch transmission to Bollaro to when he arrived at 41 Upper Kingtown Road, about 17 minutes transpired
• Bollaro subsequently told dispatch that he was unable to hear anything in the area of Upper Kingtown Road, so he would go to White Bridge Road
• At around 7:38 p.m., GPS data showed that Bollaro was on White Bridge Road, and, within a minute, his vehicle was back on Pittstown Road, about a quarter of a mile away from White Bridge Road
• At around 7:40 p.m., Bollaro asked dispatch to clear him from the scene
• Further investigation revealed that Bollaro did not speak with either the second or third callers. Rather, GPS data showed that he drove partially down White Bridge Road but never stopped to further investigate
• From the time of Bollaro’s arrival at 41 Upper Kingtown Road to when he cleared his investigative involvement, about 12 minutes transpired
• The home of 39 Upper Kingtown Road(where the double murder happened) is located around 562 feet from 41 Upper Kingtown Road; about 0.7 miles from 5 White Bridge Road; and about 857 feet from 18 Upper Kingtown Road
• GPS data further showed that Bollaro immediately drove to Duke's Pizzeria & Restaurant at 371 Pittstown Road, Pittstown, and remained there for around 50 minutes
• Bollaro was later seen parking at and walking towards the Pittstown Inn, where he remained for around 57 minutes, engaging socially with patrons, according to witnesses
• GPS data also showed that Bollaro spent around five consecutive hours of his duty shift — from around 11:27 p.m. until 4:33 a.m. — at Locust Grove Cemetery, during which no law enforcement activity was recorded by him

Afterward, Bollaro submitted a report falsely stating that he was "unable to make contact with the caller from White Bridge Road." GPS data and witness statements directly contradict that account in his report, said Robeson.

Bollaro also falsely said in his report that he "checked the area along Upper Kingtown Road again and was unable to locate the source of the shots," and that he "cleared the scene after approximately 20 minutes," according to Robeson.

Instead, GPS data and surveillance footage showed Bollaro was not in the immediate area but was en route to Duke’s Pizzeria in Pittstown, said Robeson.

The investigation found that Bollaro never returned to Upper Kingtown Road for the remainder of his shift, which ended at around 7 a.m. the next day.

Bollaro was charged with second-degree official misconduct, for knowingly refraining from performing his police duties with purpose to obtain a personal benefit, and disorderly persons tampering with public records or information, for knowingly making false entries in his FTPD report.

Bollaro was charged on a complaint-summons and noticed to appear for his first appearance, which is currently scheduled for Nov. 5.

He faces a term of imprisonment between five and 10 years and a fine of up to $150,000 on the second-degree charges. He also faces a term of imprisonment of up to 180 days and a fine of up to $1,000 on the disorderly persons charge.

The investigations into the homicides and the operations of and personnel in FTPD — the latter of which has been under supersession by HCPO since Aug. 7 — are ongoing.

The HCPO took over the FTPD on Aug. 7 after serious concerns were raised about the police department's operations and effectiveness.

Additionally, Franklin Township Police Chief Timothy Snyder and Bollaro were placed on administrative leave by the Township of Franklin at that time.

Anyone with information relating to the homicide investigation is asked to contact HCPO Detective Sergeant David Petelle or Detective Quayshaun Brooks at 908-788-1129. Information may also be provided through the Hunterdon County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-321-0010.

All anonymous reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential. Anyone with information relating to the investigation into FTPD may contact HCPO Detective Sergeant Kelsey Marsh of the Professional Standards Unit at (908) 788-1129 or hcpoia@co.hunterdon.nj.us.

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