A West Long Branch firefighter was criminally charged in connection with falsifying and destroying official records, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced today.

According to Santiago, 61-year-old Ronald Guidetti, of Long Branch, created false documents in response to a request filed with the Open Public Records Act.

An investigation was initiated earlier this year by the prosecutor’s office. Authorities say there were questions about two specific training certificates for one firefighter at West Long Branch Fire Company No. 2. Prosecutors say he also removed the certificates from the filing system and destroyed them once the request was fulfilled.

Guidetti was charged with third-degree false uttering, third-degree forgery, and fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records.

Guidetti turned himself in to authorities on Monday and was released on his own recognizance pending future proceedings in Monmouth County Superior Court.