Long Branch Cop Accused Of Operating Meth Lab At Home: UPDATE

LONG BRANCH – A 19-year police officer has been suspended without pay after he was arrested and accused of operating a methamphetamine laboratory at his home, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Sunday night.

Christopher Walls, 50, of Long Branch, is charged with first-degree maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility, second-degree possession of a firearm during the course of a CDS offense, and other related offenses.

“Thanks to the swift action of our office, the Long Branch Police Department, and the New Jersey State Police, a very serious risk to public safety has been averted. The collaborative efforts of our agencies dismantled a very dangerous situation. It is particularly distressing that this hazard was caused by a sworn law enforcement officer.” Gramiccioni said.

After learning of the details involving Walls, Acting Long Branch Police Chief Frank Rizzuto immediately suspended him without pay.

“The officers in our agency risk their lives daily to protect and serve our residents. It is disappointing beyond measure that one of our officers could have risked the safety of his family and neighbors by engaging in such dangerous conduct. This officer’s actions do not reflect the moral compass of our officers or this agency,” Rizzuto said.

Long Branch Mayor John Pallone released a statement condemning Walls' actions and that the city's Director of Public Safety, Domingos Saldida, will be filing disciplinary charges for termination against Walls.

"The city has a no-tolerance policy for any illegal activity committed by police officers. They must be held to the highest standard," Pallone said.

Long Branch police were called to Walls’ home on the 300 block of West End Avenue at about 10:36 p.m. Saturday for a domestic disturbance. While officers were on the scene, another resident in the home alleged Walls was involved in suspicious narcotics activity.

The New Jersey State Police Hazmat Unit responded to the scene and located materials, chemicals, and instruments consistent with a methamphetamine laboratory in both the basement of the residence and in a shed on the property, prosecutors said.

The NJSP Hazmat Unit confirmed that Walls was in possession of all ingredients necessary to manufacture methamphetamine and found methamphetamine residue in chemistry-related glassware on-site, prosecutors said.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office’s Professional Responsibility and Narcotics Units and the Long Branch Police Department revealed that Walls had been in possession of books related to making methamphetamine, explosives, and poison, prosecutors said.

Additionally, a large open and unsecured gun safe was in the home, which was accessible to a child living in the residence. Inside the gun safe were two long guns, four handguns, eight high-capacity magazines, and a large quantity of ammunition, prosecutors said.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact Detective Brian Hammarstrom of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-431-7160, extension 6413.