Clark, New Jersey mayor Salvator Bonaccorso has been charged with criminal offenses after an investigation into allegations of racial slurs he made. Attorney General Matthew Platkin accused Bonaccorso of operating his landscaping and illegal tank removal business from his township office, using municipal resources to run the company. The charges also include witness tampering and falsifying records.

Platkin claimed that Bonaccorso fraudulently used an engineer’s name, license number, and forged signature on permit applications. Officials from Clark Township and the mayor’s residence declined to comment on the charges. A resident named Debbie Flanagan called for Bonaccorso’s resignation, while other residents praised the mayor for his work before the charges were announced.

Platkin also revealed that the criminal charges against Bonaccorso stemmed from another investigation into the police department and its chief, as well as allegations of racist comments made by the mayor. Platkin reported a disproportionately high arrest rate for Black individuals, although neither the police department nor officials were available for comment.

Furthermore, Platkin recommended changes to be made within the police department and called for either the resignation or firing of the police chief, which only Mayor Bonaccorso can do.