NEED TO KNOW
- The police chief uncle of the suspect apparently accused of murder in the deaths of two girls riding an e-bike was separately accused of discrimination in a lawsuit
- Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas were killed while riding an e-bike after they were struck by a car on Monday, Sept. 29
- The lawsuit is not connected to that case
The New Jersey police chief whose nephew is apparently charged with murder of two girls riding an e-bike has been sued for alleged discrimination.
Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro, who is the uncle of 17-year-old Vincent Battiloro, is accused of retaliating against former police officer Matthew O’Holla, who said he reported alleged sexual harassment. A copy of the lawsuit was obtained by PEOPLE.
Vincent Battiloro was apparently charged with murder in connection with a crash that killed Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis in Cranford, N.J., on Sept. 29.
While authorities did not release the name of the driver because of his age, court records show Vincent Battiloro was issued 15 tickets the day of the crash — including for allegations of leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury, careless driving, reckless driving and going at least 70 mph on a street with a speed limit of 25 mph.
PEOPLE previously reported, citing court records, that he was also cited for allegedly driving without a license, registration and an insurance card.
On the day the suspect was arrested, Christopher Battiloro wrote on a Facebook post that while the suspect in the fatal crash “is related to me, he is not my son and not a member of my immediate family.”
Vincent was identified by NJ.com and Patch as Christopher’s nephew.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office said that after the girls were struck, the suspect was detained and questioned by law enforcement officers before he was ultimately released “pending further investigation.”
The suspect was later arrested after a criminal complaint was issued.
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Friends of Maria and Isabella have alleged to Fox 5 and WABC that the suspect had been stalking one of the teens.
“She made complaints and nothing was done,” friend Tammy Carbajal reportedly said. “It’s just a tragedy.”
A spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office declined to comment on those allegations due to the ongoing investigation, PEOPLE previously reported.
A GoFundMe has since been started to raise money for the teens’ families.
Christopher Battiloro did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on the lawsuit.
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