Sergio Bichao

@sbichao

PERTH AMBOY – Police Chief Benjamin Ruiz has been suspended without pay after being charged Tuesday with theft after allegedly using a city mechanic to repair personal vehicles.

Benjamin Ruiz, 53, a city resident, was charged with one count of theft of services for authorizing the repairs on various occasions between Dec. 8, 2013, and July 29, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey's office said Tuesday afternoon shortly after MyCentralJersey.com reported that Ruiz was no longer in charge of the department.

Carey's office said Ruiz had the mechanic repair two of his personal vehicles and a vehicle owned by a friend.

Ruiz was released without bail after surrendering to the Middlesex County Sheriff's Department in New Brunswick, Carey's office said.

Mayor Wilda Diaz on Tuesday announced that the Police Department had been placed under the control of Capt. Larry Cattano, who has been named acting deputy chief.

Neither Diaz, her spokeswoman nor Cattano returned requests for comment Tuesday morning. The city provided a prepared statement by the prosecutor Tuesday afternoon. Diaz's announcement about Cattano was made via Nixle, a text and email alert system.

In a prepared statement reported by News 12 New Jersey, Diaz is quoted as saying: "Although we live in a society where each one of us is innocent until proven guilty, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's charges are serious enough that I am immediately moving to suspend Chief Ruiz without pay until the final resolution of the charges against him."

The criminal accusation against Ruiz is just one among several accusations and scandals he is facing.

MyCentralJersey.com and the Home News Tribune in July revealed that Ruiz was being investigated by the city on allegations that he sexually harassed or assaulted a city employee with whom he had an affair and a child.

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Ruiz's attorney at the time, Vito Gagliardi Jr., called the city investigation a "witch hunt."

Former councilman and retired police officer Ken Balut has accused Ruiz of misusing city funds and equipment and lying about overtime payments made with FEMA funds awarded after superstorm Sandy. He said Tuesday that he has provided the city and investigators with documents backing his claims.

In 2012, Ruiz appeared in uniform with other officers at Diaz's election event. Ruiz has said he was off-duty.

Balut said he was made aware of the allegations of Ruiz's improper use of the mechanic "by good, honest cops."

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Balut on Tuesday said Diaz, who as mayor also serves as the city's civilian police director, has failed to take appropriate action in dealing with accusations against Ruiz's.

"He (Ruiz) has politicized this police department so badly that moral is down. The stuff that he did was not minor stuff."

Ruiz was appointed chief in 2012. He makes more than $161,000 a year after getting a $2,700 raise earlier this year.

Perth Amboy police union president Brandon Bucior declined to address the criminal and political charges but issued a statement Tuesday afternoon that PBA Local 13 looks "forward to working with Acting Deputy Chief Lawrence Cattano in looking for ways to make our department grow and change for the better while we continue to serve the citizens of Perth Amboy with pride and dignity."

Staff Writer Sergio Bichao: 908-243-6615; sbichao@mycentraljersey.com