Mayor's Daughter Arrested at Central Regional High School After Fighting With her Boyfriend

Around 9:00 AM on June 17, 2024, Patrolman Thomas Eichen and Damon Papa were working at Central Regional High School and while they were in the security golf cart, they were informed by Officer Bill that 2 students were having an altercation in the parking lot. As they drove past the 2 students, they noticed that they were having an argument. One of the students was identified as 18-year-old Ava Bacchione, the daughter of Berkeley Township Mayor John Bacchione. Patrolman Eichen observed Ava yelling at the other individual and calling him a cheater. They also observed Ava throw a phone at him and strike him multiple times in the back of the head.

After this observation, Patrolman Eichen spoke with Ava while Officer Papa spoke with the other individual. Ava informed Patrolman Eichen that the other individual had allegedly cheated on her with her best friend as well as other people, and that is why she was very upset at the moment. Shortly afterwards, Principal Mazzuca arrived on scene and walked Ava into the building to speak with her about the incident. The other individual declined first aid, but as per school protocol, he was walked to the nurse’s office in order to be examined.

Shortly afterwards, Sergeant Baranyay, Patrolman Hendrickson, and Patrolman Tuminaro responded to the high school to assist. Since both students were adults and they were a relationship with each other, it was determined that they had to place Ava under arrest. The Superintendent was informed that an arrest would be taking place, and the officers met with Ava as she was sitting inside the Guidance office. Ava was informed that she would be placed under arrest for the assault of the other individual. While Ava claimed that the other individual had pulled her hair, the officers told her that they did not see that, but they had surveillance footage of her assaulting the other individual. The officers walked Ava to the patrol car before Patrolman Hendrickson put the handcuffs on her and placed her in the car.

The other individual informed the officers at the high school that he did not wish to press charges or pursue a restraining order against Ava. However, the officers had to take Ava into custody because this was a domestic case. He also did not wish to complete the domestic violence paperwork, and he eventually left the high school with his sister. The incident reports states that a review of the security camera footage indicated that Ava did indeed initiate a physical altercation with the other individual. They did not find any footage to corroborate Ava’s account of the other individual allegedly pulling her hair though.

Ava was transported to the Berkeley Township Police Department for further processing. At police HQ, Ava was visibly upset and she was evaluated by first responders. After she was cleared by first responders, she was finger printed and photographed. After Ava was processed, she was charged with Simple Assault under 2C:12-1A(1) and released pending her future court date. Court records indicate that Ava’s case has been transferred to another Municipal court, possibly to avoid a conflict of interest in the Berkeley Township Municipal Court, and her court case is still pending as of August 4, 2024.

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