Fire Chief Arrested for Damaging Rare Sports Car in New Jersey: Questions of Accountability and Neighborly Relations

A New Jersey fire chief has been arrested after a video allegedly showed him vandalizing a man’s sports car. Joshua Scolnick was caught on camera dumping a bucket of rocks, mud, and gravel onto the 1995 Nissan Nismo 270R while it was parked 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.

Bahna, who is also a collector and seller of Japanese sports cars, stated that his car was scratched and dented in the incident. He mentioned that 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.

CBS New York attempted to contact Piscataway Fire District No. 3 for comment but did not receive any responses. Police have charged Scolnick with third-degree criminal mischief and released him on a summons complaint. The incident has caused outrage in the community and damage to Bahna’s rare sports car has been a topic of discussion.

The surveillance footage has sparked questions about accountability within the fire department and whether there were proper protocols in place for handling incidents involving neighboring properties.

Local officials have called for an independent investigation into the matter to ensure transparency and accountability within Piscataway Fire District No. 3.

The incident highlights the importance of maintaining good relationships with neighboring property owners to prevent disputes from escalating into violent acts.

As more details emerge about this case, it will be interesting to see how it unfolds in court and what impact it will have on both individuals involved as well as their respective communities.