UPDATE: Berkeley Officers Injured After Vehicle Pursuit

Four Berkeley Township police officers were injured early this morning, and the resident police say is responsible is hospitalized and facing numerous criminal charges.

Patrolmen Patrick Stesner, Michael O'Connor, David Moody and Sgt. Peter Larocca all suffered injuries after Kenneth Morris of Northern Boulevard charged their cruisers with his Ford pick-up and tussled with police after exiting his truck, police said.

Officers had pursued Morris after responding to a Brennan Concourse address at 2:44 a.m. on a report of an assault, with a man in need of first aid after allegedly being struck in the head with a tire iron by Morris. 

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, police said. 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 pursuit headed back to Brennan Concourse, where Morris briefly stopped in front of the victim's home, police said. He then drove to the end of the street and turned around, ramming the officers' cruiser with his truck. Police said the officers suffered injuries, and their cruisers sustained significant damage.

Morris left his truck and charged the officers, police said, but was subdued with pepper spray during the altercation. The Berkeley officers were then able to arrest Morris.

Stesner, O'Connor and Moody all were treated at Community Medical Center, Toms River, after complaining of back and neck pain. Sgt. Larocca was not hospitalized but did suffer a cut to his face, police said.

The victim of the Brennan Concourse assault also was transported to Community Medical Center and received staples to his head. Morris was hospitalized at Jersey Shore Medical Center for injuries he sustained when allegedly ramming the police cruisers.

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.

Bail was set at $750,000.