Politics & Government

Emergency Township Council Meeting Set for Tuesday For New Police Vehicles

Three patrol cars damaged when resident rammed them with his truck early Sunday morning after high-speed chase

 

Township Council members will move as quickly as possible to get more police cars on the road, after a weekend assault by a Bayville man left three cars damaged and four officers injured.

The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Town Hall on Pinewald-Keswick Road, Township Clerk Beverly M. Carle said.

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The township had already approved the lease of a number of new cars this fall.

"The new cars are in need of getting equipped ASAP as a result of the damage the vehicles," Township Council Vice-President and Mayor-Elect said. "It cannot wait until the next meeting. We need to get some new cars on the road."

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Four officers were injured and three patrol cars significantly damaged early Sunday morning after Northern Boulevard resident charged their cruisers with his Ford pick-up and tussled with police after leaving his truck

were all injured in the attack. The 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.

"I don't believe any of the officers were back at work today," said , who praised the way police handled the incident.

"We're lucky it did not end up much worse," Varano said. "It was something you train for, but you hope it never happens."

Morris was spotted traveling south on Harbor Inn Road by Stesner, who activated his lights and siren in an attempt to pull Morris over. Morris ignored Stesner and fled through Beachwood and Lacey Township, police said.

Morris and Detective Joseph Robertazzi had a phone conversation during the pursuit 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, but was subdued with pepper spray during the altercation, police 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 ten percent option.

Stesner, O'Connor and Moody were treated and released at Community Medical Center in Toms River. The investigation into the incident is continuing, Varano said.

"We'll go after the insurance company," he said. You have injured officers and damaged vehicles. It ends up being costly to the township."


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