South Bound Brook chief charged with leaving accident

SOUTH BOUND BROOK – Police Chief William King, who "appeared to be too intoxicated" to answer questions about a hit-and-run accident less than a half-hour after it happened, remains on duty after he was charged with leaving the scene of an accident on Main Street in the early morning hours of April 4.

King, 51, was also charged with careless driving, failing to report an accident and improper turning.

King earns $142,860 a year to head one of the smallest police departments in Somerset County.

SCROLL TO BOTTOM OF ARTICLE TO READ ACCIDENT REPORT

The accident is still under investigation, pending a review of surveillance video from the South Side Grille, according to the report filed by Officer Richard Meinsen.

The chief allegedly struck a car parked on Main Street in front of borough hall and police headquarters at about 2 a.m. April 4. Borough hall is next to the South Side Grille.

According to the police report released on Tuesday, a witness told police that a black pickup with tinted windows pulled out of the driveway of borough hall and struck a 2006 Dodge Dakota pickup owned by William E. Beer II, of South Bound Brook, then left the scene.

The witness told police that the collision caused the parked pickup to shake.

But the witness, according to Meinsen's report, could not give a description of the driver or the license plate number.

Because Meinsen had seen the chief's pickup in the parking lot that evening and the witness had given a description that matched King's blue Sierra pickup, he went to the chief's house at about 2:25 a.m.

After he arrived at the chief's house, Meinsen saw the chief's pickup backed into the driveway.

The officer saw damage along the passenger side of the pickup, according to the report. Meinsen wrote in his report that he did not observe any damage when he saw the chief's vehicle earlier that night.

Meinsen then called King on his cellphone and asked him to come outside.

When King came out, his breath smelled of alcohol and "he appeared to have been drinking," Meinsen wrote in his report.

King said, without Meinsen asking, that he had consumed a few drinks at home.

Meinsen told the chief about the hit-and-run accident and what the witness had said.

The chief denied being involved in an accident and "that if he did, he would have recalled doing so," the officer wrote.

But King, Meinsen wrote, "appeared to be too intoxicated to attempt to get any further in-depth statement from him."

The Borough Council received a copy of the police report on Tuesday, Borough Administrator Donald Kazar said.

King could not be reached for comment.

Staff Writer Mike Deak: 908-243-6607; mdeak@mycentraljersey.com