BOSTON, MA – The police chief of a New Jersey town has been indicted on kidnapping and domestic assault charges after allegedly confining and attacking a woman inside a Boston hotel room, authorities announced.
Carmen Veneziano, 47, who leads the police department in Totowa, New Jersey, was arrested Friday by Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office officers after a grand jury returned the indictment. He surrendered without incident and waived extradition to Massachusetts.
The alleged crimes occurred September 14 between 3:30 and 5 a.m. at a Back Bay hotel room. Prosecutors say Veneziano confined and assaulted the woman during the encounter, though the nature of their relationship has not been disclosed.
The Suffolk District Attorney’s Office confirmed the charges Thursday: kidnapping and three counts of domestic assault and battery. “Further details will be disclosed at the arraignment,” the office stated.
Veneziano is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston. His attorney has not publicly commented on the charges.
The indictment raises serious questions about leadership of the Totowa Police Department. It remains unclear whether Veneziano will be placed on administrative leave or removed from his position pending the outcome of the criminal case.
Kidnapping charges in Massachusetts carry severe penalties, with conviction potentially resulting in years in state prison. The domestic assault charges add additional exposure if he is found guilty.
The case represents a stunning fall for a law enforcement leader now facing the same criminal justice system he was sworn to uphold. Totowa is a small borough of approximately 11,000 residents in Passaic County.
