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N.J. fire chief charged; caught on video vandalizing car next to firehouse

Video is the latest in a dispute between a Piscataway fire chief and a neighbor over a shared alleyway

By Jeff Goldman
nj.com

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — A volunteer fire chief in Piscataway seen on video vandalizing a vehicle parked beside the firehouse as a result of an ongoing dispute with a man who owns a neighboring building has been charged with third-degree criminal mischief, authorities said.

A video recorded by Mark Bahna shows Arbor Hose Company No. 1 Chief Joshua A. Scolnick pouring a bucket full of rocks, gravel, mud, dirt and grass on Bahna’s rare sports car on Saturday evening.

No one answered the phone at the firehouse on Tuesday or Wednesday and an email to the firehouse was not returned. The Board of Commissioners for Piscataway Fire District 3, which oversees the fire company, didn’t return a phone call from NJ Advance Media.

Bahna said Scolnick has objected when rainwater removed with a sump pump from his business gets the fire department’s flag pole wet.

Bahna owns Yale Street Wrestling Club which shares an alleyway with Arbor Hose Fire Company. The majority of the alley is on Bahna’s property he said. That’s where the car was parked when it was vandalized at about 7 p.m. Saturday, Bahna said.

According to Bahna, the vandalism left a dent in one of the doors and cracks in the rear windshield of his 1997 Nissan Nismo 270R. He said the car will cost about $10,000 to repair.

The car was just one of 30 if its kind produced and, according to Bahna, was driven by Japanese race car driver Keiichi Tsuchiya.

Bahna said he plans to sue the township and fire department.

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