VILLAS — On Sept. 23 at approximately 6 p.m., a distraught female called the Lower Township Police Department from a pay phone here at Bayshore and Hudson avenues.
Police said the female told them she was just involved in a domestic incident with her husband while riding in their motor vehicle.
She stated that her husband threatened to kill her and told her to get out of the car.
Officers responded to her location and transported her to the Lower Township Police Department to pursue a possible restraining order.
She identified her husband as James J. Fitzgerald, 41, from the 300 block of Bay Avenue in Villas.
According to a release, officers then ran a warrant check on Fitzgerald and determined that he was wanted by numerous jurisdictions for outstanding warrants including a failure to appear warrant out of Atlantic City for aggravated assault on a police officer with a weapon.
Officers determined that Fitzgerald was operating a 2000 gold Mercury Sable with temporary tags.
At approximately 7:50 p.m., Special Officer Michael Kennedy observed Fitzgerald’s vehicle in the 100 block of Desoto Avenue.
When Kennedy attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop, the vehicle accelerated away at a high rate of speed, at one point leaving the roadway and side swiping a tree on DeSoto Avenue.
The vehicle then continued on DeSoto Avenue and crossed Bayshore Road nearly striking an unmarked vehicle occupied by
Detective First Class Mel Hedum and Detective Chris Lambert who were en route to back up Kennedy.
Detectives then activated their emergency lights and sirens and began to pursue the vehicle.
Suspect’s vehicle continued west on Ocean Avenue to the bay and north to Maryland Avenue. The detectives then relinquished the pursuit to a marked police vehicle operated by Special Officer Michael lames.
At one point the suspect’s vehicle left the roadway again and struck a concrete wall in the 1500 block on Main Street in Villas before continuing back north on Delaware Avenue then turning west onto Tampa Avenue where the vehicle impacted a large sand dune at Tampa and the bay.
Fitzgerald then fled his vehicle on foot, running onto the beach at the Delaware Bay. Lames, Hedum and Lambert then pursued Fitzgerald south on foot for approximately three blocks on the beach. Corporal Ernest Macomber then approached Fitzgerald from the north. When the suspect observed Macomber’s flashlight he ran into the water in an attempt to elude the officers.
Macomber, lames, Hedum and Lambert followed Fitzgerald into chest deep water where he refused repeated, verbal commands to stop resisting.
A struggle then ensued with Fitzgerald attempting to strike the officers. lames utilized Pepper Mace against the suspect, however Fitzgerald continued to resist arrest and had to be physically dragged out of the water.
Following his arrest Fitzgerald complained of asthma related breathing problems and was transported to Cape Regional Medical Center by Lower Township Rescue Squad accompanied by a Lower Township Police Officer where he was held for observation before being placed in county jail on the following charges with bail set at $50,000.
• Eluding police officers during a motor vehicle pursuit with risk of injuries, second degree crime
• Three counts of aggravated assault on police officers
• Resisting arrest
• Driving while intoxicated
Fitzgerald was also issued a total of 14 motor vehicle citations including reckless driving, and driving without a license.
Besides the Atlantic City warrant, Fitzgerald was also wanted on traffic warrants from Vineland, Millville and Hamilton Township.
Following the incident, several officers were given permission to return to their homes, one at a time to change uniforms and clothing that was soaked and covered with mud.
In addition, during the arrest of Fitzgerald, two portable police radios and a police cell phone were rendered inoperable from salt water.
Dennisville – As a parent of a Tech student it would be great if the school would update their staff directory. So many old staff still listed and no new teachers listed. What gives?
