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A State Police trooper has been charged with aggravated assault for beating a rookie squad mate while off duty in an elevator at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City.

(File photo)

TRENTON — A State Police trooper was charged with aggravated assault in the beating of a rookie squad mate in an elevator at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City one night last month, The Star-Ledger has learned.

The injured trooper, who was reportedly punched in the face repeatedly, suffered a concussion, a chipped tooth, a broken eye socket and torn tendons in and around his eye, which required reconstructive surgery, according to court records.

It was not clear from Atlantic City Police records what touched off the brawl, which took place between the two off-duty troopers about 11 p.m. on Aug. 5, or whether alcohol was involved.

According to police records, Trooper Thomas Prusakowski, 29, of Somerset, was arrested after officers were called to the Borgata the following morning.

The injured trooper was identified in Atlantic City municipal court records as Matthew Sullivan, a rookie squad mate of Prusakowski at the Washington barracks in Port Murray.

Sullivan signed the charges against Prusakowski on Sept. 4, records show, and the case was sent to the Atlantic City Prosecutor’s Office because it is an indictable offense.

Neither trooper could be reached for comment.

Lt. Stephen Jones, a spokesman for the State Police, said Prusakowski was placed on paid administrative leave Aug. 7 pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

Prusakowski, who earned $83,817 in salary and other pay excluding overtime last year, graduated from the State Police academy in June 2008. State Police declined to say whether he had past disciplinary problems.

Sullivan graduated the academy last year with the most recent class of troopers.

The altercation between Prusakowski and Sullivan occurred just three days after another trooper, Victor Pereira, allegedly broke his cousin’s jaw following a night of drinking.

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