An Atlantic City man arrested while he was working as a Boardwalk ambassador was released from jail Tuesday.
Shawn Pettis, 38, was wanted on a domestic violence warrant for allegedly breaking a woman's nose during an altercation June 11.
Pettis was given a summons for the drugs, but jailed on the simple assault charge.
He had a detention hearing Tuesday, and was released with conditions.
"I don’t want to suggest that he is distributing drugs on the Boardwalk," Assistant Prosecutor Harlee Stein told Judge Pam D'Arcy before the decision was made. "But certainly his arrest and the circumstances do cause the state some concern as the heroin epidemic is increasing still."
Defense attorney Durann Neil said that, while Pettis may have a drug issue to address, there is no indication that he was distributing narcotics on the Boardwalk.
Stein also pointed to Pettis' history as a member of a violent drug-trafficking gang, 800 Blok, which was dismantled in 2013, after he and 27 others were arrested in a major bust.
He was given a decade in prison, and has been off parole since 2019, according to information provided in court.
Pettis was then arrested that October on a drug charge, Stein noted.
Neil clarified that it was a disorderly persons offense related to marijuana. He added that his client has had no interactions with law enforcement since 2019.
"Much has been made about Mr. Pettis' history, however, he should not be defined by his past," Neil told BreakingAC after the judge order his client released. "We ask that the public hold their opinions until the matter is litigated."
The judge said that, "the court does not condone domestic violence in any manner," but noted that the charge is a disorderly persons offense, the lowest degree.
Stein said that considering the injuries — which allegedly include a broken nose — she would not be surprised if the charge is upgraded.
The judge, however, made her decision based upon the current charge.
Pettis was working for ABM Industry Groups at the time of his arrest.
The company contracts with the CRDA to provide Boardwalk ambassadors.
A spokesman for the company previously told BreakingAC that they do criminal background checks, but would not comment on Pettis' history and employment specifically.
On Tuesday, ABM's Michael Valentino told BreakingAC that Pettis remains "suspended pending conclusion of the investigation" that was started when he was arrested.
