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Posted on 05/10/2025 9:01:33 AM PDT by simpson96
AVALLETTE, NJ — Two men have filed a lawsuit against the borough of Lavallette, its mayor and police chief after they were arrested in 2023 for attempting to film a council meeting, according to documents filed in federal court earlier this month.
Michael Vintzileos of South Amboy and Steven Wronko of Spotswood filed the lawsuit against the borough, Mayor Walter LaCicero, Police Chief Christian LaCicero, and other police officers and municipal employees, claiming their First Amendment and civil rights were violated when they were arrested during the meeting on July 24, 2023.
The lawsuit was filed on April 1 in U.S. District Court in Trenton.
According to court documents, Vintzileos and Wronko attended the meeting because officials planned to address ADA beach access, an issue of interest to them.
Before the meeting, the men claimed they contacted Borough Clerk Donnelly Amico and notified the city of their intent to film it. According to the lawsuit, Amico replied with, “Have a nice weekend.”
After the meeting started, the lawsuit claims both men were arrested by police for filming it without receiving prior written permission to do so.
Vintzileos and Wronko were both charged with purposely preventing or disrupting a meeting through an act of physical interference. The charges were later dismissed.
Others named in the lawsuit include Lavallette police Sgts. Adam LaCicero and Justin D. Lamb. Adam LaCicero is the brother of Police Chief Christian LaCicero, according to an Asbury Park Press report, and both men are sons of the mayor. Lamb is also Toms River council president.
"What happened to these guys is outrageous," Toms River lawyer Thomas Mallon, who is representing Vintzileos and Wronko, told the Press. "We firmly believe that they intended to arrest them right from the get-go. … They were just doing what they have a right to do. Maybe it makes these politicians uncomfortable, but that’s too bad. It’s part of the job. They have to learn to live with it."
Lavallette Borough Attorney William Burns told the Press he has not filed a response to the lawsuit, but said the city and its employees denied any wrongdoing.
Vintzileos and Wronko are asking for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, according to court documents.
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Democrat Mayor LaCicero, center.
A town of devout nepotists.
People who don’t do anything wrong have nothing to hide.
Imagine thinking in 2023 that you can’t video a public meeting. Insanity. Then again, we are talking about Democrats here.
Heck, my former suburb was videoing and posting council meetings long before Covid, almost a decade before. During Covid, meetings on video were almost a requirement everywhere.
Jackpot
Sue them to the poor house.
That is probably supposed to say Lavalette, no?
Lavallette is a shore town that fills up to about 30k people in the summer. In the winter it’s about 3k people who are mostly inbreds and descendents of inbreds who never venture off their island, except to stock up at Costco. Sort of a beach for those that escaped the Pine Barrens.
Like the last time I was there, 40 years ago on a motorcycle trip. I complained out loud why a payphone directory was shredded. Some rando passing outside said, "cuz yer in Joisey."
> After the meeting started, the lawsuit claims both men were arrested by police for filming it without receiving prior written permission to do so. <
But they did have prior written permission! It’s the First Amendment to the Constitution, freedom of the press.
(Which, by the way, does not apply while on private property. But of course those guys were on public property.)
Side note: Notice how the cops acted like mindless drones, “just following orders”.
The defendents need to be sued jointly and severally with monetary damages sought that will bankrupt the towm and the individuals.
I’m all about transparency in government, but I honestly would find it bothersome if people from outside my town showed up to videotape my town council meetings.
Why would videotaping bother you?
> I’m all about transparency in government, but I honestly would find it bothersome if people from outside my town showed up to videotape my town council meetings. <
I can understand that. But it shouldn’t be near enough to prohibit such activities, and arrest the folks involved. I forget who said it, but whomever it was is very wise:
“The Bill of Rights is meant to protect unpopular [or bothersome] behavior. Popular behavior needs no protection.”
It's more than disgusting, as is Christie.
In my town, I think the town council doesn’t even have an obligation to let you speak during the open forum part of the meeting if you’re not a resident of the town or representing one.
Sounds like Communist tactics against freedom.
My family has been spending summers in Lavallette since 1955. I’ve watched the place go from a really relaxed, blue collar beach town of small bungalows, motels, mom and pop bars and restaurants and shops, to an overbuilt monstrosity packed with shoddily constructed Mcmansions and fast food franchises. There are still isolated pockets of the old charm, but they’re rapidly disappearing.
That's happened to every small coastal town on the Atlantic and Gulf.
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