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Officials: New Jersey State Trooper Pulled Over Women To Ask Them Out

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New Jersey state trooper is accused of trying to cover up that he pulled over women during traffic stops just to ask them out on dates.

As CBS2's Meg Baker reported, Marquice Prather, 37, of Linden, was arrested Friday on charges of third-degree tampering with public records or information and fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records.

He was suspended without pay and released without bail.

"If it's a cop, who can you trust? Who can you trust?" said Regina Jarvis of Linden. "A state trooper doing something like that – that's really bad."

State police began looking into the three-year veteran after several women complained about his conduct.

Investigators found that Prather showed a pattern of stopping women between the ages of 20 and 35 to ask them on dates or for their phone numbers, according to prosecutors.

Investigators said Prather would turn off his wireless microphone during the stops and falsely report it had malfunctioned. They also said he manipulated data to conceal that he was targeting a high number of women drivers.

"I'd be probably a little scared too," said Terrice Marshall, "because nothing like that ever happened to me before."

Several women filed complaints against Prather after being stopped, prosecutors said. After being contacted by investigators, others outlined similar conduct.

Neighbors on Prather's block in Linden said they would feel extremely violated if they were put in such a situation.

"A woman riding in the street and an officer stops you – you've got to be careful," said a woman named Ramona.

"I don't think it's right – I mean, there shouldn't really be like blackmailing or anything like that," said Elijah Harrison of Linden.

Prather's attorney says he'll plead not guilty.

The trooper joined the police force in 2013 and makes an annual salary of $60,749, state payroll records showed. He was assigned to the division's Holmdel barracks, which patrols the Garden State Parkway.

Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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