Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Beachwood Officer Shot Man Who Ignored Commands To Drop Handgun

52-year-old Beachwood man died of injuries, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office says

A man who ignored repeated requests to drop a handgun outside the High Velocity Sports Bar on Route 166 was shot and killed by a Beachwood police officer late last night, Ocean County Executive Assistant Prosecutor Michel Paulhus said.

Sgt. Bruce Harris was on routine patrol in a marked police cruiser when he encountered Mark Tanouye, 52, "causing a disturbance" near the sports bar on Route 166 around 10:50 p.m, Paulhus said.

Harris, who was in uniform, got out of his patrol car and confronted Tanouye in the sports bar parking lot, said Paulhus.

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"He ignored repeated commands to drop his weapon," Paulhus said. "The officer discharged his weapon and the male suffered fatal injuries."

Tanouye was carrying a .25 caliber handgun. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His last known address was in Beachwood, Paulhus said.

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Sgt. Harris has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is continuing, which is standard procedure, Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said.

The state Attorney General's Office was notified about the shooting, Ford said.

"An investigation is being conducted by my office pursuant to the Attorney General’s guidelines concerning the use of force," Ford said.

Anyone with any information concerning this investigation is asked to
contact Detective Thomas Tiernan of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at
(732) 929-2027.

Tanouye was last admitted to state prison in March 2008 and was released March 2012 South Woods State Prison, on one count of terroristic threats to kill, and one count of weapons possession for an unlawful purpose. The charges stemmed from an incident in May 14, 2006, according to the state Departments of Corrections.

On May 5 of that year, Tanouye impersonated a public servant, a charge which he also served prison time for, and used aliases such as Gregory Bartholomew, Bartholemew Dangalow, Mark Dangelo and Mark Tonouge, according to the state Department of Corrections.


The prison term was a mandatory 48-month sentence that carried a maximum of seven years.

The parking lot of the High Velocity Sports bar was roped off with police tape in the early morning darkness. Beachwood police, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the Ocean County Criminalistics Investigative Unit and the Beachwood Fire Department were on the scene.

Toms River Patch Editor Catherine Galioto contributed to this article.


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