Morris Co. Fire Chief Masturbated In ShopRite Parking Lot, Police Say

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A Morris County Fire Chief has been arrested after being caught masturbating in a public parking lot on Tuesday, according to Sparta police.

Joseph Compano, 55, of Budd Lake, has been charged with lewdness, the Sparta Township Police Department announced this week.

According to police reports, at approximately 11:48 a.m. Tuesday, patrols were dispatched to the ShopRite parking lot for a report of a male masturbating in his vehicle.

According to Lieutenant Thomas Snyder, a woman informed investigators she was walking back to her car with her groceries when she noticed a maroon Ford Explorer parked next to her, with its brake lights flashing on and off.

As she was unloading her belongings, she spotted a man in the Explorer, later identified as Compano, uncovered while masturbating, according to authorities.

The complainant went on to say that when she made eye contact with Compano, he started masturbating more furiously and tried to hide behind the driver's door post, although he would occasionally peek at her.

She dialed 911 and provided the vehicle's registration, prompting Compano to leave the parking lot suddenly when he noticed her on the phone.

According to the police, the woman also provided a detailed description of Compano.

Lt. Snyder, Sgt. Daniel Elig, and Ptl. Philip Longo contacted Compano after spotting his car parked at a neighborhood business. He informed officers that he went to ShopRite for lunch and ate it while parked in the lot.

"Mr. Compano denied the allegations, stating he had a tray of watermelon on his lap and was eating it with a fork, suggesting that may have been the masturbation motion the complainant observed," Sparta police said.

However, patrols on the scene said that they did not see any watermelon or a watermelon container in the vehicle.

Video surveillance from the Shoprite parking lot was obtained and reviewed by the police department, which showed Compano's red Ford Explorer entering the parking lot and parking in numerous positions for a brief amount of time before finally staying in the spot next to the woman's vehicle.

"At no time did the driver, Mr. Compano, exit his vehicle and enter the Shoprite to obtain lunch, contrary to his initial claims," police said.

According to investigators, Compano went to police headquarters for an interview and eventually admitted to masturbating in his vehicle. He was charged with lewdness and then freed pending his court appearance.

The Budd Lake Fire Department did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment on the matter.