6 N.J. troopers suspended in gang-rape investigation

TRENTON, N.J. - Six New Jersey state troopers have been suspended with pay as authorities investigate claims by a 25-year-old woman that she was sexually assaulted by a group of men.

"The superintendent of police has suspended six troopers with pay as a result of Mercer County's investigation of the alleged sexual assault," said Capt. Al Della Fave, a State Police spokesman.

The investigation is "in the very early stages," Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said Tuesday.

He said his office is investigating claims by the woman, whose identity was not released, that she was assaulted by a group of men that included one or more off-duty troopers at a home in Ewing Township in the early hours of last Friday.

"There have been no charges filed," Onofri said. "The investigation is still in its preliminary stages."

"There's an investigation going on of that situation, which I probably shouldn't comment on," Gov. Corzine said. "Like everyone, if the allegations were true, you'd be deeply disturbed."

The names of the troopers accused of the assault have not been made public. The Star-Ledger of Newark, citing unnamed law enforcement sources, said the woman is a student at Rider University.

Rider University spokesman Dan Higgins said he could not confirm it Tuesday.

"No one's been able to tell us this officially," Higgins said. "We haven't heard a name and we don't know whether it's a Rider student or not."

Authorities had not contacted the university's communication office as of Tuesday afternoon, he said.

The woman was treated at a local hospital after the incident, Onofri said.

Authorities would not say where the women had encountered the men. But WCBS-TV quoted unidentified sources as saying the woman told authorities she and a friend met the troopers - including a detective and an academy instructor - at the KatManDu Bar in Trenton on Thursday night.

Joe Surdo, marketing director for Kat Man Du, would not comment Tuesday afternoon on any aspect of the alleged incident when contacted by the Associated Press.

Della Fave said the agency was fully cooperating with the investigation.

"Once we were made aware of the allegation, aggressive steps were taken to ensure full and complete cooperation with the investigation," he said. "The superintendent has directed all appropriate resources be made available to support the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office in their investigation."

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