Officials confirmed yesterday that a firefighter with North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue (located in North Bergen) was arrested last week on an Atlantic City warrant that charged him with Simple Assault, a crime of domestic violence. He was subsequently suspended without pay for failing to disclose the incident to his superiors.
Ronald Ruiz, a 35-year old Passaic man, was arrested on May 21st by officers from the North Bergen Police Department at the firehouse on Paterson Plank Road, where he was in his six-month probationary period for new hires. At the time of his arrest, he was also served with a Temporary Restraining Order.
Information regarding the “victim” is being withheld for her protection, but it appears that the incident resulted in the filing of cross-complaints. Ruiz, through his lawyer, has invoked his Fifth Amendment right to silence and has declined to comment on the incident or the pending charges.
Whether further disciplinary action will be taken against Ruiz depends on the outcome of the investigation and the disposition of the charges.
The Atlantic City Police Department has yet to provide a copy of the police reports to North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue.
For more information, see the Jersey Journal article entitled, “Firefighter suspended without pay; arrested at North Bergen firehouse.”
