NORTH ARLINGTON - Four Belleville police officers have been suspended without pay following their arrests in connection with a bar fight, according to Police Chief Mark Minichini.

Officers John Clarizio, 32, Marco Zarfino, 24, Jesse McKeough, 28, and Giovanni Casillo, 39, are all charged with simple assault in connection with a large fight several weeks ago in North Arlington. The officers will face administrative charges after their cases are adjudicated in court, Minichini said Tuesday.

Clarizio, who investigators claim lied to a Lyndhurst police officer, was also charged with hindering apprehension.

"When I first heard of this (fight), I suspended three of the officers," Minichini said. "When the prosecutor's statement came out on Monday, Casillo was suspended immediately."

The chief would not say whether the officers voluntarily came forward to report the altercation as per department policy.

"If an officer is assaulted or involved in an assault, they are obligated to report it," Minichini said. "I'm not saying that happened or didn't happen here. That will all be part of the administrative investigation by our Professional Standards Bureau."

Clarizio, a Nutley resident, is a six-year veteran of the police department. Zarfino, who lives in Belleville, has been with the department for two years. McKeough, also of Belleville, is a four-year member of the department. Casillo, who lives in Wayne, has been with the department for seven years.

A fifth man, Vasilios Theofanidis, 39, identified as a pool technician, has also been charged with simple assault.

Officials would not name the bar where the fight took place.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.