A Ringwood NJ man faces serious criminal charges after being shot by a Wanaque police officer during an alleged domestic violence incident.
The scary incident unfolded around 2:00 a.m. on July 12, 2016. The Wanaque Police Department dispatched officers to a Wanaque home after receiving a report of a man threatening a woman with a knife.
According to the Passaic County Prosecutor s Office, the suspect got into a violent altercation with his girlfriend and attempted to physical harm her by using a knife. When two other people at the residence attempted to help the victim, the suspect allegedly threatened them as well. At one point, the suspect reportedly grabbed a lamp and attempted to strike one of the other victims.
When Wanaque NJ police officers arrived at the house, they encountered the suspect. According to authorities, the suspect threatened to stab at least one of the Wanaque cops.
The violent dispute came to an end when a Wanaque police officer used his gun to shoot the suspect.
The suspect was later taken to a local hospital, where doctors treated him for his gunshot-related injuries. Thankfully, no one else sustained any injuries during the domestic violence incident.
The suspect, a 28-year-old male from Ringwood, NJ, has now been charged with numerous domestic violence-related crimes, including aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and terroristic threats. The suspect faces multiple counts on each criminal charge because he is accused of attacking both the female victim and the Wanaque law enforcement officer.
If the suspect is ultimately convicted on the most serious charges of aggravated assault, he could be subject to severe criminal penalties. That s because N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b), classifies an assault against a police officer as a second degree felony. A conviction for second degree aggravated assault could result in a sentence of 5-10 years in New Jersey State Prison.
The suspect is currently being held at the Passaic County Jail in lieu of a massive $750K bail amount.
Meanwhile, the Passaic County Prosecutor s Office Shooting Response Team is actively investigating the police shooting, as is standard procedure anytime a police officer discharges a firearm during what is term a use of force incident.
For additional information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Man Shot by Cop during Wanaque Domestic Incident Facing Charges.”
