ALittle Silver police officer has been arrested and charged with using excessive force during an arrest, according to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

The Jan. 7 arrest of Little Silver Patrolman Steven Solari, 36, an 11-year veteran of the department, follows a joint investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Little Silver Police Department.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Solari has been charged with two counts of second-degree official misconduct, one count of second-degree aggravated assault, one count of third-degree tampering with a witness, one count of fourth-degree obstruction of justice, and one count of thirddegree hindering his own apprehension.

The joint investigation began after Little Silver Police Chief Shannon Giblin became aware of an allegation that Solari had allegedly employed excessive force during an arrest, according to the press release. Giblin began an internal affairs investigation, suspended Solari with pay pending the results of the investigation and notified the Prosecutor’s Office in compliance with the state attorney general’s guidelines.

The press release states that the joint investigation revealed that Solari, accompanied by another Little Silver police officer, responded to a call Dec. 20 at a private residence. During the course of that call, Solari arrested an adult male who lived at that location. Solari also allegedly engaged in a physical struggle with the adult male he arrested. The adult male was handcuffed and transported to Little Silver police headquarters.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, while at headquarters and while the adult male was handcuffed with his hands behind his back, Solari allegedly struck the adult male several times, causing the adult male’s head to strike a metal filing cabinet and causing him injury. The adult male was eventually transported to Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, where he was treated and later released. The adult male was charged with the disorderly persons offenses of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

The investigation also revealed that there were witnesses to Solari’s alleged assault on the adult male and that two days after the assault and while Solari was in full uniform and on duty, Solari approached one of the witnesses and allegedly attempted to induce the witness to lie to or withhold the truth from law enforcement authorities who were investigating Solari’s assault of the adult male, the press release states.

If convicted of any of the second-degree crimes he has been charged with, Solari, of Little Silver, faces a maximum prison sentence of up to 10 years. The second-degree crime of aggravated assault is subject to the No Early Release Act, which means that if Solari is convicted of this crime, he must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for release on parole. If convicted of second-degree official misconduct, because he committed the crime while acting in his capacity as a public official, Solari would also be subject to a mandatory five-year period of parole ineligibility. If convicted of either of the thirddegree offenses, Solari faces a maximum sentence of five years in state prison. If convicted of the fourth-degree offense, Solari faces a maximum sentence of 18 months in state prison.

Additionally, if convicted of any of the third- or second-degree crimes he has been charged with, Solari would automatically forfeit his current public employment and would be permanently barred from future public employment within New Jersey, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.

Following Solari’s arrest, N.J. Superior Court Judge Thomas F. Scully, sitting in Freehold, set bail for him at $81,000. Solari initially was lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, in lieu of bail; he posted bail Jan. 8 and was released.

Upon the filing of the criminal charges, the status of Solari’s suspension was changed from “with pay” to “without pay,” the Prosecutor’s Office stated.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin said, “The Little Silver Police Department is commended for taking immediate steps to police themselves and bring this misconduct to light. It is always a sad day when a law enforcement officer is charged with a crime, but it should be encouraging to the residents of Little Silver and the rest of the county that there are police officers who have the strength of character to investigate and uncover misdeeds by fellow officers.”

Despite these charges, the Prosecutor’s Office points out, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation into Solari’s alleged assault upon the adult male is continuing. Individuals possessing information regarding the incident are encouraged to contact Detective Charles Wright of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533- 7443 and/or Lt. Carmen G. LaBruno or Sgt. Daniel J. Shaffery of the Little Silver Police Department at 732-747-5900.