HACKENSACK, NJ – Four people, including two off-duty police officers, have been charged following a violent altercation outside The Park Steakhouse in Park Ridge that left a man hospitalized with serious head injuries, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced.
Authorities said the confrontation occurred December 6 outside the upscale restaurant, where officers responding to a disturbance found an adult male lying on the ground with significant injuries. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital and later released after several days of treatment.
According to investigators, off-duty Montvale Police Officer Nicholas K. Dispoto, 31, was identified as the primary suspect in the assault. Prosecutors allege Dispoto engaged in a physical altercation that caused “significant bodily injury” to the victim, then attempted to hide inside the restaurant as officers arrived on the scene.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office later determined that three others — off-duty Park Ridge Police Officer Jason R. Vradenburg, 28, Martina L. McGee, 29, and Thomas M. Schiavone, 59, of Florida — allegedly provided false statements to responding officers in an effort to conceal Dispoto’s involvement.
Officers accused of cover-up attempt
Dispoto was arrested Friday, February 13, and charged with third-degree aggravated assault, third-degree endangering an injured victim, and fourth-degree obstruction of law. Vradenburg was taken into custody the previous day on charges including third-degree endangering an injured victim, third-degree tampering with public records, and fourth-degree hindering apprehension. Both officers were released pending court appearances in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.
McGee and Schiavone were also charged February 13 with fourth-degree hindering apprehension. They too were released pending court appearances.
Prosecutor Musella credited the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Confidential Investigations Unit and the Park Ridge Police Department for their work on the case, led by Chief Jeff Angermeyer and Chief Joseph Rampolla, respectively.
The prosecutor stressed that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
- Off-duty Montvale and Park Ridge officers among four charged
- Victim suffered serious head injury outside The Park Steakhouse
- Investigators allege cover-up and obstruction following assault
The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors continue gathering evidence and witness statements related to the incident.
Court dates pending as investigation widens.