A Crisis Averted In The Night
Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele describes scene on Brennan Concourse where Bayville resident rammed police cruisers and injured officers
Photos
It could have been much worse.
Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele has nothing but praise for the way police officers handled a situation early Sunday morning that could have resulted in the use of deadly force.
"This could easily have been a deadly force incident," the chief said. "When I got there, I was just thankful to see them walking."
DiMichele headed out to Brennan Concourse around 3 a.m. after being notified that Berkeley police officers were pursuing a man wanted for an assault who was already too familiar to them.
Kenneth Morris — now sitting in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River — is the same man who barricaded himself in his Northern Boulevard several months ago, DiMichele said.
Officers were on high alert because of Morris' past history, she said.
"We knew he was the same person, so we agreed we could not let him get to another residence," DiMichele said. "We knew we had to stop him."
Police began a high-speed pursuit of Morris at 2:44 a.m. Sunday, after responding to a report that Morris had struck a man in the head with a tire iron, then fled the scene in his pick-up truck. They found him on Brennan Concourse.
Morris, who had told police he had a gun, rammed three police cruisers with this truck. Patrolmen Patrick Stesner, Michael O'Connor, David Moody and Sgt. Peter Larocca were all injured in the assault.
During the pursuit, Morris and Detective Joseph Robertazzi had a phone conversation in which Morris claimed to be armed, threatened to kill the victim of the Brennan Concourse assault and declared his intention to die by "suicide by cop," police said.
The Berkeley resident was soon spotted traveling south on Harbor Inn Road by Patroman Patrick Stesner, who activated his lights and siren in an attempt to pull Morris over. Morris, however, ignored Stesner and fled through Beachwood and Lacey Township, then back into Bayville, police said.
He stopped at the home where the tire iron assault allegedly took place, but found police officers stationed at the residence. He barreled down Brennan Concourse, only to find the gate leading to the entrance of Berkeley Island Park locked, the chief said.
"He did a U-turn and came head-on at the officers," DiMichele said. "He did say he had a gun. When the collision occurred, they didn't know when this guy got out of the car if he had a gun. Tensions were high. The officers used really good restraint."
Morris rammed the police cruisers several times with his truck, then got out and charged the officers. He was eventually subdued with pepper spray.
"I was thankful we had the DWI patrol out there that night, which put more officers on the road," the chief said. "That possibly averted a deadly force encounter."
Stesner, O'Connor and Moody all have neck and back injuries and were treated at Community Medical Center in Toms River. They will probably be on light duty for two weeks, DiMichele said.
"They were up and walking when I was there," she said. "I was thankful for that."
Sgt. Larocca was treated for a facial laceration at the scene.
The victim of the Brennan Concourse assault also was transported to Community Medical Center and received staples to his head. Morris was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for injuries he sustained when he rammed the police cars.
Police are still evaluating the damage to the three police cruisers, DiMichele said.
"The damage looks extensive, but it could be cosmetic," she said.
The Township Council has scheduled an emergency meeting at 5:30 p.m. tonight in Town Hall to speed up equipping new police cruisers the township recently leased.
"We need to get the police equipment into the cars," she said.
Morris was charged with five counts of second-degree aggravated assault, one count of third-degree aggravated assault and one count of second-degree eluding. More charges are expected, police said.
His bail was set at $750,000, with no 10 percent option.
Morris was involved in a 12-hour police standoff on Sept. 19, when police responded to his Northern Boulevard home after someone not at the residence called and said he had threatened some type of violence. He eventually came out and no charges were filed in that incident.
Hearme
11:38 am on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
I am trying to figure out why no charges were filed in the original incident with him. I would hope that if no charges were filed that the man was put under a psych. eval. but there was no mention of that. I know it isn't as easy as just saying "I think his is crazy please put him in a psych. hospital" but obviously there was a serious issue going on for him to have a 12 hour stand off with police. Maybe if he was put under an eval this could have been avoided. He obviously has serious issues going on , you don't need to be a doctor to see that.It's sad for him but scary for the people around him. I know having him as a neighbor would not make me happy.
todd benson jr,
12:10 pm on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Morris was involved in a 12-hour police standoff on Sept. 19, when police responded to his Northern Boulevard home after someone not at the residence called and said he had threatened some type of violence. He eventually came out and no charges were filed in that incident. My understanding is he knew one of the cops and they let him go .
john
12:02 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
that guys only 5 houses away from me.......holly *X*&%.......
i wonder also why no charges on his 12 hr hostage situation were filed. someone put the BPD and public in grave danger by not locking that guy up months ago.
hate to say it, that end of northern is no stranger to people doing what ever they want, racing mustangs up and down northern, kids throwing eggs / rocks at cars at nite, home s becoming full scale business operations causing traffic hazards.....
somethings gotta give eventually and it almost did saturday nite.
MG
6:40 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
John, what has to give is your defaming only certain parts of a block. If I recall correctly, there have been several horrific accidents (some of them fatal) on the opposite end of Northern also, there are "businesses" on many parts of the road and not all kids are bad. There was also a party on Western the other night which got completely out of hand in which young kids were involved. But to get back to the story on hand, the fact of the matter is the man in question apparently needs help. So if you are, in fact, a neighbor who lives "five houses away", then you would know that there are young children in that home who will be going through a rough time and do not need anymore heartache. No matter what, it is still their father. Compassion goes a long way.
todd benson jr,
11:54 am on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Morris was involved in a 12-hour police standoff on Sept. 19, when police responded to his Northern Boulevard home after someone not at the residence called and said he had threatened some type of violence. He eventually came out and no charges were filed in that incident. My understanding is he knew one of the cops and they let him go .
Hearme
1:15 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Seriously, I think if morrissey ever didn't find the most negative thing to say we might all just go into shock.I am so glad I don't live my life like that. Hey morrissey...would you feel that way if your kid was that cop in the hospital or had a guy threatening him with a gun? Would you gripe about the cost of insurance going up if these guys got killed and the PBA insurance paid the funeral costs? Jeez give it up already! Don't you have an once of brain matter that says what you say is seen as a crazy man just spiting out more hatred? You are no different than a KKK member you just have a different target. Go away!
morrissey
1:24 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
ahhh the old KKK race card......thats a little tired.......sure you dont want to compare me to hitler and the jews ?????
Hearme
7:30 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Morrissey.... Even Hitler had the sense to leave and hide when he knew he was beaten. I didn't give you that much credit. Besides, I never said it was a race issue. I will explain it so even you understand. I was saying you have that much hatred and spit it out as often but have a different target. Is that simple enough for you to understand?However,obviously if others have used the "KKK card" as you claim maybe you should get the hint. Is there another hate group you would prefer me to compare you too? Would that make you feel better?
Berkeley Resident! and Proud!
1:45 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Just stop.... Please!!!!! I'm begging you!!!!!
Karen Wall
2:08 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Rule No. 1 about internet comment threads ... don't feed the trolls.
eben 5307
4:43 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
morrisey always has the most idiotic comments to make just look at the article about the council meeting for the cars to get replaced
Berkeley's Finest
8:03 am on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Eben I agree but morrisey loves to start rattling the readers up on here. He's probly just bitter because he wasn't cut out to be a cop
morrissey
10:03 am on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
if you mean not cut out to protect the banksters.....if you mean not cut out to beat up the 99% for peacefully protesting......if you mean not cut out to shoot a marine in the head.........if you mean not cut out to sit in a car waiting at a speed trap so i can write tickets to people just try to earn a living going to work........if you mean not cut out to expect the taxpayers to pay for me a pension and health benefits for life......if you mean not cut out to be a cop because i respect my wife and would never have a girlfriend on the side .........than NO , i was not cut out to be a cop
Hearme
1:46 pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Just so we are all clear you are saying that all cops are bad & write tickets to speeders(who are breaking the law), they cheat on their wives & treat them with no respect,beat up innocent people for no reason,only protect big business, shoot to kill our service men/women for no reason, take a job that offers good benefits but bad pay yet still put their lives on the line for all of us (even you!)? Wow..I guess according to you the whole world is horrible & you are the only good person. Or should we just refer too you as Saint? Honestly ,did you practice at being this much of an ass or were you born this way? I figure a bit of both ,because no one can be that ignorant and filled with hatred unless you had some natural talent at it then worked real hard to perfect it. If we all thought like you, you would be the one locked up for a psych. eval. I don't think they would turn you loose. You're the type of guy that is a "loose canon" as it has been worded in some threads. You know the type, the guys who have so much hatred that they finally snap & go kill people. You're the scariest of people in my opinion. You really should seek help. Or maybe we should do what John suggests & have your family get you help. After all we wouldn't want it coming out of our tax dollars. We would have to blame the Mayor and Chief of Police for wasting money & not just killing you because we don't want our taxes to go up.Of course all your problems would be their fault so it could get sticky.
john
10:22 am on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
mg, when i moved in area 11 years ago, 1 business, and a quite neighbor hood.....in 11 years, yes, 4 fatalities on northern and western...remember, those fatalities could have been one of your or my loved ones...., that s why i complain about cars racing up and down northern.. $ $ 1,400 dollars of damage to my vehicle cause by the precious kids, oh but my insurance pd 900 and i m out 500... your right, all kids arent bad, just the bunch throwing rocks at cars, smashing mailbox s, and stealing from cars..7 business s now on northern alone, ...hth that happens is beyond my comprehension in a residential zone area...... and since most people buying a house look around a neighborhood before buying, there s alot of negative look to the neighborhood with home run business s stacking up cars, trucks, landscape equipment in their yards......
and lastly, back to mister morris s problems, perhaps the best compassion adn support would be from his own family , wife, brother s, sister s , should have said after the first altercation, YOU NEED HELP and get him that.... he s a loose cannon......with no remorse to hurting anyone... the more i think about it, the more of a miracle it is no one is dead because of him.. so who was the victim hit in head by mister morris ? a neighbor ?
MG
5:41 pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
John, I understand your frustration but your comments about the vandalism by kids seemed to be pointing toward "that end of Northern" where good families & kids live. It would be a shame to label innocent people. As to the businesses, it is a residential area but that doesn't stop the constant truck flow up Northern to the industrial area. I'm sure those who have businesses are only trying to make a living. Maybe someone could ask them to make it look cleaner? Finally, as to Mr. Morris, the article said it was a person who lived on Brennan Concourse who was hit. Nobody knows but the family as to whether they tried to get him help but he refused. Something apparently happened to him that he was unable to mentally handle & he snapped. Society should have forced him to get in house treatment after the first incident. They didn't & now he's in jail & his children are without a father. My philosophy is before I judge I first try to put myself in the other person's shoes & here is what I see in this case. There is a mother who has no choice but to try to pick up the pieces for her children & make life as normal as possible for them. It cannot be easy. We are all neighbors here. How about if we extend our hands out instead of making them feel uncomfortable? I taught my child never to pick on others as you never know what problems they are going through at home. Let's make Northern a place where people want to live by showing them we have compassion for each other.
Berkeley's Finest
6:09 pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Well morrissey hey sorry you feel that way about all officers. Well ill tell you the truth if I like you or not morrissey on any given day I still will for you and your family put my life on the line.
eben 5307
11:35 pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Standing ovation for hearme!!!! walt and morrisey need to shut their mouths and thanks should be given to "Berkeley's finest" (screen name ) and the other officers in our town for being the type who even thou clearly can tell morrisey hates cops that you will still wold put your life on the line for him. Good for you not dropping to his level!
Hearme
12:03 am on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thank you eben . I have a wish.If we really want to thank our Finest we should give them the tools they need to stay as safe as possible no matter what the cost! Again there are things we should never skimp on. How willing would most people be to step in front of a guy who is threatening to kill them, innocent people and himself? How much would you have to get paid to be in that position? You couldn't pay me enough. I thank them and their families who have to wonder every time they walk out if they will be coming home at the end of the shift. You all have more guts than most will ever have.That goes for our firefighters as well. It always shocks me that we don't pay the guys willing to save our lives. I know running into a burning building takes something I don't have. I can't wrap my brain around the fact that people bitch at the cost of equipment that might save their own life not to mention that they don't even pay the guys doing it.These idiots praise Vicari for taking a token paycheck as superintendent even though he didn't do anything in the job (that's another whole issue) yet they never mention that our firefighters risk their lives for NO PAY! Seriously there is something so wrong with that mind set, I wonder about the sanity of those people.
morrissey
12:22 am on Thursday, December 1, 2011
man Hearme you must be old.......you are afraid of your own shadow......always been that way ? or just since your lost your testosterone.......you liberals crack me up with your pie in the sky cradle to the crave utopia........try to live free.....may be a little scary at first, but its well worth it
Hearme
1:12 am on Thursday, December 1, 2011
First of all I never had much testosterone morrissey. What is it I'm afraid of? If your talking about standing in front of a man with a gun or trying to run me over, or running into a burning building. I can honestly say yes, I would be afraid. Normal people with common sense would be afraid. (Yes, I realize that is the most used oxymoron on earth.) That's why we should protect those who are willing to do it. Do you think we should send our military into the war zones with no protection as well? Oh wait, you would worry if bullet proof vests and loaded guns might raise your taxes.
I also find it interesting that you assumed I am a man. You know what they say about assuming? So now I'm a man, that's a liberal,old and cradle the crave utopia (Whatever that is supposed to mean.). You sure make a lot of assumptions.Of course we already knew that from your posts. Again without any real knowledge you make statements. Whats the matter are women in your world not allowed to be intelligent and speak their mind in public with out permission from you big strong men? I'm so scared now.....I better find a man to protect me and stand up for me......lol
eben 5307
11:40 am on Thursday, December 1, 2011
hearme dont even engage with morrisey anymore your thoughts and opinions are based on facts and logic and presented with reason morrisey can not operate with those standards he makes no sense and you pointed that out. NOw he knows your a a female I think he may be threatened by you because not only did you speak your mind but you made sense unlike him who is just angry doesnt understand what police fire and ems personal do for us and just wants to complain about the mayor and his taxes.
dazme777
10:43 pm on Sunday, August 5, 2012
I do think police have one of the hardest jobs in the world. I know many who have been killed for stopping a person to tell them there rear light was out. They put their lives on the line everyday.. Mr. Morris was in law enforcement himself , he is one of the beat people I know and is now being tied to the stake .It is understandable to have this bad opinion with the limited revealed facts of this ongoing case.A few facts could change this whole story in a second. Meanwhile there are children,heartbreak and extended family involved. The other side of this story may never get a chance to be told because its easier not to go after the truth and keep things in a convoluted knot. Many divorces have ended in tragedy of late. You have no idea what a person goes through for all the right reasons .It is a problem society needs to deal with better.It starts with not pre-judging.
MG
8:08 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
I totally agree with you. Let me be the first to say I would have no problem testifying on his behalf.
dazme777
10:58 pm on Sunday, August 5, 2012
There are many divorce war stories out there, that have brought legal troubles,credit problems and extreme situations. The law gets used to make a soon to be ex-spouse so hurt and missing there kids they will agree to anything.. If it happened to me ,it can happen to anybody. The fact that there is no priors of any kind should count for something and lleave society not trying to jail the innocent while the true instigators go free.So many circumstances in divorce involve civil crimes of slander,misrepresentation,parental alienation,infidelity. iLife is one big soap opera.There are too many orphans out there.We have to do better.
dazme777
11:09 pm on Sunday, August 5, 2012
There are no laws that can
make a person have morals.Immorality cause many laws to be broken by the people with morals! Just saying....