Police: Woman Assaulted Toms River Cops, Damaged Police Car

A woman who was placed under arrest for thousands of dollars worth of outstanding warrants in New Jersey and Maryland is now being lodged in the Ocean County Jail after assaulting officers and damaging a police car, according to township police.

The incident began when Toms River officers went to the 3000 block of Meadow Street for a report of a dispute at 11:43 p.m. Thursday night.

When they arrived, they met with two people who were in a heated argument over money, said police spokesman Ralph Stocco. One of the two, Jennifer Parker, 29, of Nottingham, Md., was wanted in that state on warrants totaling $6,000 for failing to appear in court on earlier charges. She was also wanted out of Mount Holly New Jersey on a $2,500 failure to appear warrant, Stocco said.

Parker was placed under arrest for the warrants, however, as Officer Nicholas Franco walked her to the patrol car she kicked the side of the car causing a dent, said Stocco. Then, as Officer Krzysztof Kowalczyk assisted in restraining Parker, she continued to struggle and kick the officers, he said.

Parker was ultimately secured in the police vehicle and was being transported to police headquarters, but then started banging her head on the safety divider between the front and rear seats, according to Stocco. She also raised her legs and attempted to break the partition by kicking it repeatedly. 

"For her own safety and to prevent her from being injured the officers pulled over and attempted to further restrain Ms. Parker," Stocco said.

During this time, however, she kicked Officer William Hutton in the face, Stocco said.

Once she was secured in the vehicle, the transport was completed to police headquarters where she was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and criminal mischief for the damage to the patrol vehicle. 

Parker is being held on $25,000 bail in addition to the outstanding warrants for $8,500.

The officers received minor injuries as a result of the assault and did not seek further medical assistance, Stocco said.

A photo of Parker was not yet available.