September 24, 09

NEWS / Shooting Response Team Investigates Shooting Incident Involving New Jersey State Police on I-280 in

NEWARK - The Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding a shooting incident involving New Jersey State Police detectives that occurred on I-280 West near Exit 15B in Newark about 8 a.m. today.

According to the preliminary investigation, detectives from the New Jersey State Police Garden State Parkway Troop E Criminal Investigation Office were investigating recent car thefts and car break-ins at service areas on the Garden State Parkway. Detective Sgt. Salvatore Ingui, Detective Harold Ramirez and Detective Joel Trella were tracking a Jeep Cherokee Sport that had been reported stolen. They followed it as it entered I-280 West at Interchange 15W from the New Jersey Turnpike. The detectives, who were driving three unmarked State Police vehicles, were able to get into position to stop the vehicle about one mile west of the Interchange near Exit 15B on I-280 about 8 a.m. The motor vehicle stop was initiated, but the suspect attempted to escape by ramming the Jeep Cherokee Sport into several vehicles, including two of the undercover State Police vehicles and one civilian vehicle. Detective Ramirez then fired a single round at the suspect, striking him in the shoulder.

The suspect, identified as Juan Colon, 52, of North 6th Street, Newark, was arrested at the scene and taken to UMDNJ - University Hospital, where he was treated and later released to police custody. Criminal charges will be filed against him later today. The detectives were also taken to the hospital and were later released

The incident remains under investigation by the Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team. Under an Attorney General Directive, the Shooting Response Team, made up of deputy attorneys general, detectives of the Division of Criminal Justice and detectives of the State Police Major Crime Unit, are dispatched to the scene to handle investigations of such incidents.

http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases09/pr20090923b.html

Tags: criminal investigation,