Ventnor police officer Ryan Bonanni in photo identification released by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
A Ventnor police officer faces several charges after he allegedly shared surveillance video showing a woman engaged in a sexual act inside a holding cell.
Ryan M. Bonanni, 24, who lives in Egg Harbor Township, used his position to access surveillance video of the woman — identified only as B.W. — inside a holding cell following her arrest July 6, according to the charges.
The video showed the woman in various stages of undress and engaged in a sexual act, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release.
She was alone in the cell, BreakingAC was told.
Bonanni allegedly recorded the videos on his personal cell phone and then sent them to others through Snapchat.
In addition to the videos and text messages, video “captions” pertaining to B.W. were also located on Bonanni’s cell phone, according to the Prosecutor's Office.
Bonanni is charged with second-degree crimes of official misconduct and computer theft, along with three third-degree counts of invasion of privacy. He was released on a summons.
The investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Professional Standards and Accountability Unit is ongoing.
“We understand the charges against a Ventnor officer reflect poorly on our department, but they do not depict the department as a whole," Ventnor Police Chief Joseph Wootton said. "The men and women of the Ventnor City Police Department will continue to serve the citizens and visitors of Ventnor City with the utmost honor, integrity and respect.”
The Ventnor police administration became aware of the incident July 7, according to a statement the department sent to BreakingAC.
"Due to the nature of the incident and based upon Internal Affairs guidelines, Ventnor City police alerted the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office," the statement read.
The investigation was turned over to the county Prosecutor's Office.
The officer was placed on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.
Since being charged, he will be suspended.
"The Ventnor City Police Department will not comment on any specifics of the incident and will let the matter go through the judicial system," the statement reads.
