Former Dem council candidate charged with impersonating a twp. official
BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer

BRICK TOWNSHIP — Will the real Michael Thulen please stand up?

Police arrested former Township Council candidate Paul M. Panuska on Aug. 31 for allegedly attempting to impersonate Republican Township Councilman Michael Thulen during an incident on River Park Drive, Capt. John E. Rein Jr. said.

Panuska was charged with disorderly conduct and impersonating a township official, Rein said.

Police responded to a harassment complaint at 11 a.m. by a husband and wife who said Panuska had harassed them about the condition of the property while they were doing landscape work at a friend's residence, Rein said.

Panuska, 52, allegedly identified himself as Thulen and told the couple he was going to have the code enforcement office fine them because of the property's condition, Rein said.

The couple were at the home with their three children. According to the police report, Panuska used loud and profane language during the encounter. The couple advised him that they were not the homeowners, and he left the area, Rein said.

Police went to Panuska's home at roughly 1:25 p.m. When they approached Panuska, he became disorderly, and he was arrested by Patrolman Shawn Naiduk, Rein said. Panuska ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Township Council in the 2007 election.

He is a physical education and health teacher at Lake Riviera Middle School, where he also coaches wrestling and track.