Cranford Police Officer Arrested, Suspended

A Cranford Police Officer remains in Union County Jail after he was arrested Friday and charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual contact and second-degree official misconduct, a spokesman for the Union County Prosecutor's Office said Monday.

Patrolman Brian Thomas, 37, was arrested following an investigation by the Cranford Police Department's Internal Affairs Bureau.  According to Union County Prosecutor Theodore Romankow, Thomas, a Linden resident, turned himself into authorities on Friday. Bail was set at $150,000.

A press release from the Prosecutor's Office states that Thomas is accused of assaulting a woman while on duty and in uniform on June 22.

In a press release from the Union County Prosecutor's Office, Cranford Police Chief Eric Mason said Thomas, who's been on the Cranford force for 12 of his 16 years in law enforcement, was suspended without pay following his arrest. Mason is on vacation this week and could not be reached for further comment.

Sgt. Gerard Quinn, the department's public-information officer, is also on vacation and could not be reached.

A clerk with the Union County Courts system said a decision should be be made tomorrow on when Thomas would make his first court appearance in the case.