FREEHOLD — A state grand jury has indicted former Middletown Police Sgt. David Ringkamp, 43, on 22 counts related to abuse of power and narcotics possession, said Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago on Thursday.
The charges stem from an investigation that began in December 2021 when the New York State Police learned that an alleged accomplice of Ringkamp’s, Millstone resident and business owner Nicholas D’Ambrosio, 33, had purchased kits to manufacture illegal “ghost guns,” the statement said.
Ringkamp, formerly of Union Beach, along with his — now — ex-wife Amanda Ringkamp, were observed helping D’Ambrosio conceal these kits at D’Ambrosio’s vape shop, “JR Vapors” in Millstone. Ringkamp agreed to assist D’Ambrosio with removing the illegal firearm parts from the vape shop after D’Ambrosio realized that law enforcement had him under surveillance, according to the prosecutor’s office.
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Ringkamp attempted to conceal the parts in his own vehicle and later identified himself as a Middletown police sergeant when investigators pulled him over in that vehicle. Ghost gun kits, cocaine and methamphetamine pills were all found inside the car, authorities said.
At JR Vapors, a search of the property uncovered more than 25 pounds of marijuana, a fully assembled ghost gun and evidence of illegal marijuana sales.
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Ringkamp’s home was also searched, where cocaine and anabolic steroids were discovered. He is also alleged to have deleted text messages to hinder the investigation into both himself and D’Ambrosio, all according to the prosecutor’s office.
The former police sergeant faces charges of second-degree engaging in a pattern of official misconduct, six individual counts of second-degree official misconduct, five counts of third-degree computer criminal activity, five third-degree narcotics offenses, two counts of fourth-degree hindering apprehension, two counts of fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence, and a single count of fourth-degree obstruction of justice. He is accused of accessing law enforcement databases to illegally search for information about D’Ambrosio and dozens of others for reasons other than official use over a three-year period.
“This case involved an extremely complex cooperative investigation expertly handled by individuals from a number of agencies,” Santiago stated, who recognized the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, the New Jersey State Police, the New York State Police, and the Middletown Police Department for their work in the investigation.
In the same statement, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin emphasized the importance of public trust in law enforcement.
“These allegations represent an extraordinary violation of those duties, and the honor that comes with the badge,” Platkin said.
Ringkamp was initially suspended without pay and was fired from the Middletown Police Department on April 22, 2022.
He is represented by defense attorney Peter O’Mara, whose office is located in Shrewsbury.
D’Ambrosio was sentenced in August to eight years in state prison after pleading guilty to various drug and ghost gun charges.
Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Ex-Middletown police sergeant indicted on 22 counts: NJ prosecutor