Domestic Violence
The beginning of round two
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Sgt. Dale M. Baranoski
One thing my Father always said is that police and politics do not mix. I would learn the truth of that first hand. This chapter will demonstrate this to its worse level.
Chief Joseph F. Baranoski, Jr.
RIP 9/2008
January 1996: Note: An answer to a longtime question has been found - WHY did/does/will Kozub behave in her destructive manner? The answer will be posted at the end of Page V.
I attended a police-training seminar in Atlantic City with several police officers from nearby departments. One of those officers was Deanna Kozub-Marinelli who works for the Burlington Township Police Department. She and I became attracted to another. However, she was married. She convinced me that her husband (Mr. Marinelli) was a violent drunkard and that she intended to leave him. We began a relationship while she began the separation process. Thereafter she and I began to date exclusively. This lasted up to the spring of 1998 when we began experiencing problems with our relationship. Things became rocky. On several occasions we decided to take several breaks to see it would help. It was during one of these breaks that Kozub decided to pay me a visit late at night.
June 9, 1998: Kozub arrived at my house unannounced and let herself in. She came up to my room where I was asleep. She woke me and I recognized that she had been drinking. I was startled and told her that she shouldn't be in my house. She then began rummaging through my things. She accused me of being involved in a relationship with a woman I had dated several years ago and whom I was still friends with. I would later learn that Kozub had investigated this one particular woman and had even tracked down her address! When she grabbed my electronic Rolodex (it contained phone numbers, etc.), I was finally fully awake. I took it back from her and told her she needed to leave, now! She became increasingly agitated. She stated that she wanted the number so that she could call her. I turned my back on her as she began to push me. Suddenly, she began to attack me! I was stunned as she smacked me across the face and began to pummel me. I had never struck a woman and was unable to do so then. All I could do was try to defend myself. Note: aside from being 200lbs, six feet tall, I was my PD's defensive tactics instructor.
I discarded the Rolodex and attempted to secure her arms by grabbing her wrists. I was in shock; things were moving in slow motion. I could not believe this was happening. She struggled to break free from my grip. She repeatedly kicked me. It was taking all my effort to hold her wrists. Once when she was able to free her hands she raked her nails across my face. She left a gouge that traveled from my eyebrow, across my eyelid and down my cheek to my jaw-line. I remember thinking afterwards how close I came to losing my eye. She was trying to seriously hurt me. She was maniacal. At one point she grabbed the inside of my right thigh. With all her might, she squeezed, cutting into my flesh. I saw her jaw clenching with the exertion. It was excruciating pain. I broke her grip finally but she was relentless. She was able to get a grip on the back of my neck and flesh came away in her hand.
My dog, Thunder, entered the room. He always disliked anyone who appeared to fight or argue and would bark continuously, as he began to do then. I tried to keep him from waking anyone up. I was scared, ashamed and terribly embarrassed. I did not want anyone to see what was happening. It was all the more scarier because neither of us was yelling. She was talking, but quietly. She was fully intent on her objective, which was to hurt me. At one point, we fell onto my bed. Eerily she went slack and calm. I continued to hold her wrists. She looked me in the eye and sarcastically said, "What are you going to do Dale, call the cops?" My stomach sunk as now I had an extra concern. Just how far did she mean to take this attack? She knew that I could not call the police because even as a victim of domestic violence, according to the longstanding teachings of the Burlington County Prosecutors Office regarding the policy on Domestic Violence involving law enforcement officers, I would have my weapons taken from me and not allowed to work. She eventually assured me she was now calm and just wanted to leave. I tentatively let her go as we stood up by the bedroom door. She seemed like she was truly calm and would leave. Not so. She spun and viciously renewed her attack. I suffered another hand across the face for my lapse in judgement. Thunder was now barking uncontrollably. This caused my Mother to come upstairs. She exclaimed, "What is going on!" She had to physically pull Kozub off of me. Kozub broke into tears as my mother led her downstairs. In time I composed myself. I went downstairs and my Mother distracted Kozub while I went down another flight of stairs. I went into a bathroom and observed my wounds. I was in a daze. I had never experienced anything like this before, even on the job! The suddenness of the assault was shocking. I was shaking. I cleaned the blood from my face, neck, and leg. I marveled at how close she had come to blinding me and the near castration. I laid down and after some time I drifted off to a troubled sleep.
Kozub - Not your typical domestic violence abuser
The next morning I awoke in the morning to get ready for court. I observed the glaring injury marks and realized I had to try to cover them up or risk being subjected to the harsh treatment of the Domestic Violence policy. But my best efforts were not going to cover them all. When asked, I said that I had been doing yard work and had been clearing branches when one raked me. Most accepted this explanation. I do remember that it was painfully uncomfortable when I was required to take a seat and testify on my court cases before the Judge. It took several day for the pain to subside and at least a month for the wounds on my inner thigh to heal completely, so deep were the gouges. The next day Kozub sent my mother a flower arrangement, apologizing and thanking her for the time they spent talking. I refused to tell anyone for some time about what had happened. I even forbade my mother from telling any family members. Needless to say we did not have contact for some time after this. However, like all domestic abusers, she was eventually able to convince me to resume our relationship, and like most victims, I fell for it and we renewed our romantic relationship. Witness Statement:
I was embarrassed, humiliated and in fear of what would happen if it ever got out, especially in light of the hostile work environment I was continuing to experience at my work place from the previous matter involving the drunk driver and the ongoing lawsuit. Eventually I did confide in several of my closest friends, also police officers. Two of the police officers who witnessed the injuries were interviewed by County Detective Debra Lietenberger (AKA Mr. Gerrow's lackey). What Lietenberger lacks in size she more than makes up for in criminal willingness. Officer statements:
And the other officer:
Domestic Violence is supposed to be gender neutral. However, even in this day and age, women are not accepted into the ranks of domestic violence abusers. Conversely, men are not allowed to be victims either. I would never ever be treated as a victim. From the onset, as part of Gerrow's criminal conduct, he would make pitiful, unfounded excuses for illegally obstructing criminal complaints and/or action against Kozub (indeed, his common method of operation in all the cases including mine would be to isolate and protect the accused while overwhelming the victim to give the appearence that it was the victim who had done wrong.)
I would rather for the public's safety these be mugshots, but here are pictures of public enemy's numbers one (Bernardi on left who allows it) and number two (Gerrow) who is the unchained maniac:
Public Enemies 1 (Bernardi) and 2 (Gerrow) in their crime element - The Courts
http://southjerseyjustice.com/PublicEnemy1and2.bmp
This is one prime area where lawyers fail; always protect the client! One of several excuses offered by Gerrow was that she simply could not have done it. Another was that she was out of the area at the time. Well, let's look to Kozub's statements made to Gerrow's Investigator's and see what Kozub stated. First is my statement that I provided for the probable cause for the assault complaint against Kozub (which was filed BEFORE her internal affairs statement that follows):
“On June 9, 1998 I had been sleeping. I was awakened by Deanna Kozub. I had just broken up with and she wanted to talk about it. When I told her no she became irate and started yelling at me. I asked her to leave and she refused to do so. I then asked her to stop going through my personal items as she said she wanted to find an ex-girlfriends number. When I took away my phone number rolodex she began striking me about the head. She then scratched my face, leaving a visible scratch. She also left nail gouges in my neck and inner right thigh. All areas slightly bled. I was able to secure her arms. She then said to me am I going to call the cops and smiled, knowing that I couldn’t because I would [subjected] to. While she continued to struggle, my mother Dorothy Lyons-Baranoski entered the room and was able to distract the accused so I could leave.
I did not file a complaint at the time of the incident because I was embarrassed and scared of my employment status.”
Now, compare this to Kozub's own statement provided to Gerrow and his lacky/cohort, Investigator Debra Lietenberger:
Kozub: Um well we had, it was after we had broken up, he had called me that day and asked me, please I want to talk to you, can you stop by? He knew I was going out that night. And he said can you stop by please I wanna, I really need to talk to you. So after I had gone out I had stopped by his house and he didn't like the fact that I was dressed up and that I had gone out with a friend of mine DAVE BRINTZINGHOFFER and um he was jealous of that fact and he was accusing me of, of sleeping with everybody so soon and I said well you have plenty of people you go out with and I said here, here's your rollerdex and when I tried to pick up the rollerdex he pushed me and grabbed that out of my hand. And then I pushed him back and then he, he held me down and that's when his MOM heard us arguing and came up.
Nearly identical aren't they? This even though I never saw hers till well after mine was done. The lies, which had already begun, were further compounded by the blatant manner in which they rose and were just left out there for all to see. What is also interesting is that even though this statement was taken by Gerrow's investigator's, Gerrow repeatedly said the assault incident never happened! As an example of the poor lying, look at when Officer Brintzinghoffer was interviewed by Detective Lietenberger to apparently concur with Kozub's statement/alibi that the two had been out together prior to her coming to my house:
PERSON INTERVIEWED: PTLM. DAVID BRINTZINGHOFFER
Burlington Township Police Department
According to PTLM. BRINTZINGHOFFER he has never been to the residence of DALE BARANOSKI or BARANOSKI'S mother in Edgewater Park. He further related he has never had a romantic relationship with DEANNA KOZUB. Between 5 June 1998 and 12 June 1998, PTLM. BRINTZINGHOFFER related he was in Florida on vacation and was not at BARANOSKI'S residence at which time KOZUB and he (BARANOSKI) alleged got into a physical altercation regarding a relationship between them.
He said was in Florida at this time? Wait, Kozub stated he was with her!? Hmmm...but Lietenberger had no problem with this? Does the picture become clearer? I hope so. Now, this statement was irrefutable proof that Kozub admitted to the incident that Gerrow said couldn't have occurred. Worse, as further detailed below, Kozub also admitted on an answering machine message she left at my house that she was wrong for this. The existence of this tape, when revealed to Mr. Gerrow by my first inept defense lawyer, would gain me an immediate home invasion/burglary and theft by Investigators Lietenberger/Nurcherski when they came into my home using a falsesworn search warrant (discussed later). Lo and behold, what did they take? The tape recording of Kozub's admission..Did they find any evidence or criminal wrongdoing? None.
Skipping back a bit (Hey, I am trying to keep the lies in order!) the romantic relationship between Kozub and I had came to a complete halt in the summer of 1998 when I caught Kozub in bed with another man. I would later learn that after having been rebuffed by all my friends, Kozub had been forced to seek a sexual tryst with this casual acquaintance. I was told one night that Officer Lazzarotti Jr. (from Burlington City PD) had been at Kozub's house at an unseemly hour. When asked about his late night visit Kozub stated Lazzarotti had been "having problems with his girlfriend/finance" and he was worried about potential domestic ramifications if it escalated, so he had asked to sleep on her couch (Trial transcript pg. 31; 24-25):
KOZUB: …And, I had told him [DALE], probably told him about John’s problems with his girlfriend.
She further explained that there was no interest in Mr. Lazzarotti, Jr. as she would never be caught dead with anyone who had to "wear a hairpiece" and that did recreational drugs. This explanation was accepted as self-evident. Her infidelity at the time was not known or even suspected. Trust is trust and I believed her. Ok, U.OWE.ME one kick...
It didn't matter that Lazzarotti was engaged to another at this time. Indeed, the record will demonstrate that involved men were/are her prime targets of choice. Unbeknownst to me, this secret sexual tryst lasted through the summer of 1998 when, upon entering Kozub’s house (with the entry door code given by Kozub) for dinner break, I had discovered that more than just sleeping was occurring. In shock, I immediately left after seeing for myself that no one was "sleeping" on the couch. Lazarotti would later admit to Gerrow's investigators that at the time was trying to escape out the back window! Yea, this is something that "boyfriends" try to do all the time! Question: If I am coming through the front door with the house entry codes, and Lazzarotti is trying to to escape out a back window, who is supposed to be there and who isn't? Lazzarotti Internal Affairs statement page 3:
Lazzarotti: "And I'm looking at the bathroom window wondering if I can get out onto the roof..."
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and to highlight the significance of this, maybe this will put Lazarrotti's actions into a better perspective. Apparently this is what was going on as I was coming in the front door. So I have to ask, "who was supposed to be there and who wasn't?"
While there was some typical back and forth as often occurs regardless of the causation of a break-up, the relationship was effectively over. Looking back, I realized that the problems of that break-up were more rooted in the post trauma that finally hit from the Drunk Driving matter. All through that ordeal, many wondered how I kept it together. I survived because I was lucky in having been raised to believe in the power of the truth, faith, and honesty. However, when a cop's belief foundation is rocked, as mine was by being betrayed by members within my profession, then it was inevitable that there would be a mental blow. The only question was when. My shock took six months to hit, which unfortunately, only needed the discovery of Kozub in bed with Lazzarotti to give it vent. But with the support of family, friends and God, the roller coaster ride was short-lived. I finally set Kozub aside and went on to resume dating by the fall. It would seem however that Kozub could not break off as easily, just like the typical domestic violence abuser. Lazzarotti was not the first, nor apparently was he the last. I afterwards discovered that several friends (who were also police officers) provided statements as to how Kozub tried to sexually solicit them to the investigators. Fortunately, my type of friends were of the caliber that they refused her advances. Apparently this was some type of demented thrill for her. Disturbingly, by doing so, she was creating potentially dangerous situations as each attempt created a potential three-gun conflict! I believe that this actually added to her demented thrill. There are more, but these should suffice. Sgt. Taylor's internal statement:
Lietenberger: Um so nothing ever occurred, that you, that you can think of, that would lead him [DALE] to believe that you and DEANNA had any relationship?
Sgt. Taylor: There was a point where they broke up and it was, it was apparently some problems between them and um I don't know what the time frame was between, it may have been after the first time DEANNA came to me and DALE being my friend indicated that it may, it may not be over between them and I felt that he should be aware of that, that there was a certain point that I felt DEANNA was forward toward me...
Lietenberger: Okay, so at that time, the time um that you felt that she was maybe interested in you, you weren’t sure if they were together or not together?
Sgt. Taylor: They were together.
Lietenberger: When you say, when you say she was strong towards you, what do you mean by that?
Sgt. Taylor: She indicated that she would, she would be interested in dating me .
A second Officer was interviewed. It is important to note that Sgt. Nachurski was Lietenberger's partner-in-crime and was conducting the interview with her. He was also involved in the Rufo matter (see Other Victims):
SGT . NACHURSKI: You mentioned that the time you went down the shore? You said it was interesting, what, what did you mean by that?
Patrolman Landell: Well we were in his Bronco and DALE was driving, DEANNA was sitting in the, on the middle console there. It's not really a seat but and I was sitting next to her at the window, passenger window and she was leaning over and she said how about you do me while I do DALE? I don't know whether she was joking around but she had mentioned that again. And then she had mentioned it again on the way home so. I don't know that, that was a joke or...
SGT . NACHURSKI: We're talking about sexual?
Patrolman Landell: Yeah that's what we're talking about. So I kinda found that whole thing a little offensive and little disgusting really so.
And a third person who was targeted by Kozub and rebuffed:
Kozub and I had never discussed a "threesome" with another guy. It is my belief that this was an opening line for her to broach the sex subject and to see if the person was interested in her sexually. I believe that if they indicated an interest, then she would have pursued that person selectively. Of course, the psychological exam that she should have had as I did, but which has never been done, might have provided a better technical explanation, but I think my analysis is close to the truth.
The question has to be how many others were solicited by Kozub? Recent investigation reveals that Kozub has continued this disturbing behavior and has even recently gone after co-workers of Lazzarotti ! A confidential informant advised that a police sergeant from Burlington City admitted he was approached by Kozub for sex. He refused because he was married. For now, that Officer's identity will remain confidential.
Prior to knowing of Kozub's sexual solicitations of my friends, Kozub and I still maintained some contact. Hindsight would reveal a very troubling characteristic of Kozub. Apparently while maintaining a cool, yet amiable relationship with me, she was also spreading rumors to make herself appear to be the "victim" of unwanted advances from a "former boyfriend," that of course being me. As an example, despite not having communicated for quite some time, I received a strange call from Kozub. In October of 1998 she asked if I wanted to take possession of the dog (Dakota) that we had gotten while together. Since I was on my own with a large backyard, I agreed since Dakota and my four-legged son Thunder always got along quite well. I was warned by a friend that this was an attempt by Kozub to establish a basis for having contact. For the possession of another great dog, I would never regret this. ( Thunder R.I.P. / Dakota R.I.P.). Click Here DAKOTA and THUNDER
At one point in January of 1999 I had to find out some medical history on the dog (Dakota) since he had several seizures and the treatment depended on the frequency. Now look at the last email I received from Kozub which was as late as January 1999. This is very important. Does this look like a letter from a woman who would later claim that she was being "harassed and bothered" by an ex-boyfriend? Would you go with your son to his house to give him the dog if he was "harrassing?" As you can see she even encouraged me to page her out! (This was all known to Gerrow and Lietenberger. The facts just never matched the crazy spin. It would always be a matter of the round peg (the truth) being forced into the square hole (the lies). It was clear that I didn't want any contact with Kozub and even tried to get the information otherwise. But Kozub needed the contact for her version that I was still pursuing her and making unwanted advances.
Forwarded Message:
Subj: Re: Dakota update
Date: 1/12/99 12:50:01 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Dvmk3053 (Kozub)
To: Hicaliber (Baranoski)
Well figured you were just being a dick and weren't letting me know what was going on and I never got a message from Wayne he probably doesn't want to get involved and Chuck never let me know anything. Not that I thought he would. I'm still angry at the fact that you tried to blame me for everything that happened. I was trying to save your butt from your fucked up department and I didn't want to get involved and when you treated me like I'm the one who did something wrong. But I won't dwell on that I was really concerned about Dakota and I didn't know it he was dead or what!
Well thank you for letting me know how he was and you could have paged me out and I could have called you back but anyway hope everything is well for you and Thunder and Dakota give him a kiss for me
During this time slanderous comments repeatedly surfaced whose basis was traced back to Kozub. I twice asked Kozub to stop making these comments. She kept denying being the source; obviously, she was the source.
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