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PETER? PETER: THE TOW COUNCIL SAYING THE INVESTIGATION CENTERS AROUND THIS VIDEO. >> HEY, MAN, WHO ARE YOU HERE TO MEET? PETER: IT’S A CONFRONTATION THAT LASTS ONLY SECONDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAMERA IS A SELF-PROCLAIMED ACTIVIST FROM FITCHBURG WHO SAYS HE POSES AS UNDERAGE BOYS ONLINE TO CATCH PREDATOR THE ACTIVIST ALLEGES THE MAN IN THE VIDEO IS STOW POLICE CHIEF RALPH "RUSTY" MARINO. THIS VIDEO POSTED BY ’PREDATOR POACHERS MASSACHUSETTS’ SHO PICTURES OF MARINO AND A NEWS CENTER 5 NEWS CLIP IN WHICH MARINO SPOKE TO US ABOUT LOCATI A 2-YEAR-OLD IN STOW JUST DAYS AG YESTERDAY, MARINO MET WITH STATE POLICE HERE AT THE STOW POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE TOWN OF STOW CONFIRMS MARI STEPPED DOWN, PLACING HIMSELF ON INDEFINITE ADMINISTRATIVE LEAV AND APPOINTED SERGEANT DARREN THRAEN AS ACTING CHIEF. THE TOWN’S COUNCIL SAYS THIS WILL BE FORMALIZED AT A SELECT BOARD MEETING ON WEDNESDAY. THE STOW POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYING IN A STATEMENT IT WILL COOPERATE FULLY IN ANY INVESTIGATION OF CHIEF MARINO OR ANY OTHER MATTERS, ALSO SAYING, "THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE ACTIVITIES BEING INVESTIGATED INVOLVE OR CONCERN THE OPERATIONS OF THE STOW POLICE DEPARTMENT. STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING. WE REACHED OUT TO MAR

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The chief of the Stow Police Department has been relieved of all duties after he voluntarily placed himself on leave following a meeting with representatives of the Massachusetts State Police.Sources tell 5 Investigates that there is an investigation into the allegations against Stow Police Chief Ralph "Rusty" Marino. Those sources did not specify the nature of those allegations.The Stow Police Department said state police representatives met with Marino at the station on Saturday. Following the meeting, Marino placed himself on indefinite administrative leave and named Sgt. Darren Thraen as acting chief. Marino was later relieved of his duties, according to the department."The Town of Stow and its police department will cooperate fully in any investigation of Chief Marino or any other matters," reads a statement from Stow police. "There is no reason to believe that the activities being investigated involve or concern the operations of the Stow Police Department. We refer all inquiries to the state police." A group known as Predator Poachers Massachusetts posted a YouTube video that appears to show Marino being confronted in a public parking lot by a self-proclaimed activist from Fitchburg who claims he poses as underage boys online in order to catch child predators.A representative from the Worcester County District Attorney's Office, which would have jurisdiction over an investigation, told NewsCenter 5 office does not comment on investigations.In an updated statement released Monday afternoon, the Stow Police Department said it was, "deeply disturbed, shocked and disgusted" after hearing about the alleged allegations. "We fully understand that these alleged actions, if true, may serve to undermine the trust that the Stow Police Department has worked hard to create within the Stow community," the statement said. "These alleged actions are outrageous in any civilized society but amplified in a small community such as Stow."Authorities did not indicate that any charges have been filed against Marino.James Salvie, the chair of the Stow Board of Selectmen, confirmed to NewsCenter 5 that Marino removed himself from his position Saturday and turned operation of the department to the next-most senior officer. Salvie said the board will ratify this and appoint an acting police chief at its next meeting, which is scheduled for Wednesday.