Jackson cop among 3 indicted in connection with fatal shooting

A Jackson Township police officer is among three men who were indicted Thursday by an Ocean County Grand Jury in connection with the fatal shooting of a Jackson man in April, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato.

The indictments are the result of a joint investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Unit, Jackson Township Police, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI into the shooting death of Peyman Sanandaji, 34, of Jackson, New Jersey, the Prosecutor's Office said in a press release Thursday.

According to authorities, just after 11 p.m. on April 9, Jackson police responded to Casanova Restorante, 10 South New Prospect Road, for a report of an injured employee. When they arrived, officers discovered the body of Peyman Sanandaji who they say had been shot several times, succumbing to his injuries.

Through their investigation, police learned that Sanandaji "was allegedly shot during the course of an altercation with Hector Calderon."

"Having identified Calderon, the investigation quickly shifted to locating and apprehending him," the press release states.

Within hours of the shooting death, police went to 48-year-old Calderon's apartment in Freehold where he was arrested "without incident." Eight days later, on April 17, RomeodiSantillo, 27,  was arrested after investigators learned that he was also present at the time of the murder, "and that the shooting took place during the course of a meeting between RomeodiSantillo, Calderon and the victim.," the prosecutor said.

Then, on May 14, Jackson Township Police Officer Eric Prosniewski was arrested. Police say he was charged with hindering apprehension for giving detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office "false, deceptive and misleading information in connection with the murder investigation."

According to NJ Advance Media, Prosniewski was a 12-year veteran of the department, earning a salary of more than $112,000 a year. "He was suspended without pay pending the resolution of the criminal charges, which could send him to prison for up to 10 years," officials told NJ Advance Media.

The indictment charges Calderon and RomeodiSantillo with murder, conspiracy and weapons charges, according to the Prosecutor's Office. The Grand Jury also found "special aggravating factors applicable to the murder charge. Additionally, the Grand Jury returned a true bill of indictment against RomeodiSantillo and Prosniewski for hindering and conspiracy to hinder."

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.