A New Jersey State Trooper was arrested and suspended from his job after he allegedly pulled over several women in order to ask them out on dates and then tried to cover up the improper stops.

Trooper Marquice Prather, 37, of Linden, New Jersey was arrested on Dec. 9 and charged with tampering with public records or information and falsifying or tampering with records.

The charges stem from an investigation by the New Jersey State Police Office of Professional Standards. Investigators say they determined Trooper Prather pulled over several women between the ages of 20 and 35 and asked them to go on a date with him or give him their phone numbers. On some occasions Prather intentionally deactivated his wireless microphone while asking the women out and falsely reported that it malfunctioned, according to officials.

He is also accused of falsely reporting the gender of the drivers he pulled over to cover up the fact that many of the drivers he stopped were women.

Officials say several women came forward and filed complaints against Trooper Prather accusing him of improper conduct. Other women who were later contacted by investigators also made similar allegations.

Prather was released without bail after his arrest. He has also been suspended without pay.



