New Jersey fire chief Joshua Scolnick has been arrested and charged with criminal mischief after a video showed him vandalizing a man’s sports car. The incident occurred next to the firehouse where he works, in Piscataway. The car’s owner, Mark Bahna, claims that Scolnick was upset about rainwater from his sump pump seeping over to the Arbor Hose Company #1 next door.
Scolnick is said to have damaged the 1995 Nissan Nismo 270R by dumping a bucket of rocks, mud, and gravel onto it. Bahna, a collector and seller of Japanese sports cars, stated that his car was scratched and dented in the incident. The car is priceless and may be one of only two ’95 Nismo 270R’s currently in the U.S. The car is number five out of the 30 that Nissan produced in 1995.
Bahna’s attorney, Mark Speed, mentioned that they are exploring all legal options and have reached out to the parties involved. However, attempts to contact the firehouse where Scolnick works were unsuccessful as both CBS New York and Piscataway Fire District No. 3 did not respond to messages. Scolnick has been released on a summons complaint while awaiting trial for third-degree criminal mischief charges.
The incident has caused outrage in the community and the damage to Bahna’s rare sports car has been a topic of discussion among many people who are shocked by Scolnick’s actions. Some believe he should be held accountable for his actions while others feel sorry for him and hope he will get help for any issues that led him to commit such an act of vandalism.