Ex-Freehold Borough Cop Gets Probation for Shoplifting

Onetime Freehold Borough Police Officer Darnell Esdaile is given a year of probation and fines for trying to steal $500 worth of flooring from a Freehold Home Depot in 2010.

The 47-year-old was convicted last June, at which time he was ordered to forfeit his job and barred from any future employment in state, county or municipal departments, agencies or subdivisions. He'd been on the force since 1996.

According to court documents, Esdaile approached a checkout with a flatbed cart loaded with eight boxes of laminate flooring and a steam mop, telling the cashier that the flooring was paid and he wanted to pay for the mop. Security guards were called when he couldn't produce a receipt.

Esdaile paid for the flooring by credit card at a separate checkout, loaded the boxes into his car, then returned and loaded the cart with the same amount and type of flooring, along with six pieces of quarter-round molding.

Esdaile approached a third cashier, presented the receipt for the first load of flooring and paid for the molding. Prevention-loss guards stopped him before he could reach the exit.

According to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Grammiccioni, Esdaile was sworn in as a Freehold Borough officer on March 4, 1996, with a salary of $99,402.