Former Fair Haven Fire Chief in Court Monday

by Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times

Former Fair Haven fire chief Shawn Foley will appear in court on Monday for the November 22 incident that led to his driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident and reckless driving charges.

In November 2009, first responders had to pull Foley from the chilly waters of the Navesink River after he jumped from the Oceanic Bridge after crashing his department issued SUV into a pole on East River Road then jumping into the river.

According to police, Foley's SUV knocked out electrical power to streetlights in the area and led to a second accident where a motorist hit the pole that Foley had crashed into.

Police say that that the former police dispatcher fled the scene of the accident in his fire department SUV, which later broke down in front of Rumson's Borough Hall.

Peter Koenig, an off-duty police Sergeant, lived near the scene of the accident and heard the crash. He went to investigate but found no vehicle.

Koenig said he found Foley’s vehicle minutes later in front of the Rumson Borough Hall. When he searched the vehicle, he found a wallet and cell phone, but not Foley.

When Foley was spotted by officer Gregory Oliva, he fled and jumped off of the bridge. This prompted a massive rescue effort by several agencies. Once Foley was back on land and en route to the hospital, he was read his Miranda rights and later charged after his blood-alcohol level came back.

Foley, who was the borough fire chief and a Rumson police dispatcher at the time of the accident, has since resigned from his jobs and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The hearing will be held in Long Branch municipal court by Judge George Cieri and Rumson alternate prosecutor James Ronan.

Foley had reportedly crashed another fire department vehicle in Fair Haven back in March 2008, but no charges were filed in that incident and it was not reported that the crash was as a result of any negligence or recklessness on Foley's part.

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