New Jersey mayor and referee suspended after brandishing starter pistol during confrontation

A New Jersey mayor, who was accused of brandishing a starter pistol during a parking lot confrontation, has been banned from his part-time officiating job by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).

Northfield Mayor Erland Chau is facing calls from his Republican party members to resign — the second time in three years he’s been urged to step down.

A recent story from NJ.com detailed the incident involving the Northfield Mayor. Below is an excerpt from the NJ.com story, via MSN.com.

“It’s not in the best interest of Northfield, and it’s not in the best interest of the public,” Atlantic County Republican Chairman Don Purdy told NJ Advance Media.

Chau, 72, is accused of brandishing the starter pistol while confronting a woman at Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, Atlantic County, on Oct. 1.

Local police charged him with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, disorderly conduct and harassment. Chau has been on medical leave since Oct. 7, Northfield City Clerk Mary Canesi said, adding that local officials have declined to comment on the case.

Chau could not be reached by phone and he didn’t immediately respond to an email on Wednesday.

Michael Cherenson, a spokesperson for the NJSIAA, said Chau has been suspended from officiating high school sports through the athletic association because of the charges.

Under its bylaws, an official who is charged with an indictable offense is immediately suspended pending the outcome of the case.

Chau formerly taught at the school and retired from teaching in 2019, according to state pension records.

Chau grabbed the starter pistol from his vehicle to “gain credibility” when the woman’s car was blocking him from leaving his parking spot at the high school, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Chau was wearing an NJSIAA-issued referee’s jacket for cross-country officiating at the time he brandished the starter pistol.

The woman reported the encounter to a school security guard, believing Chau was threatening her, police said in court documents.

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Chau also voluntarily came to the Linwood Police Department to discuss the confrontation, police said.

It was unclear if the woman was a spectator or a school faculty member. Mainland administrators declined to comment when reached by NJ Advance Media Wednesday.

To read the full story from NJ.com, click here.