2 N.J. Police Officers Injured when Suspect Rams Cruiser
Source The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J.
What to know
- An armed suspect intentionally rammed a stolen vehicle into an occupied Atlantic City police cruiser, injuring two officers.
- Police recovered a loaded, stolen handgun from the suspect's vehicle and found evidence of gunfire at the scene.
- The suspect was arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including aggravated assault on police and weapons offenses.
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Two officers were injured after a Millville man fired a gunshot and drove a vehicle into an occupied police car Sunday, police said.
John Melendez, 25, was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, eluding, four counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice.
Detectives Moustafa Maarouf and Julian Monsalve heard a gunshot come from the 200 block of Turnpike Road at 3:11 a.m., police said Monday in a news release.
As the officers began to investigate, a concerned citizen told them a man with a gun was getting into a vehicle.
Melendez, the driver of the vehicle, made a U-turn in the street and drove toward the officers, police said.
The officers shouted for Melendez to stop, but he continued in their direction at a high rate of speed, passing them, police said. As Melendez turned onto Florida Avenue, Officers Bayron Zelaya-Chavez and Ivaylo Penchev arrived in their marked patrol car. Melendez sped toward the officers’ vehicle and crashed into the patrol car, injuring both officers.
The injured officers were transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus. Police said their injuries were not life-threatening.
Melendez was then taken into custody, and officers found a loaded handgun on the floor board of his car, police said. The gun was previously reported stolen from Atlanta. Officers found evidence of gunfire near where the vehicle was parked before it sped off.
Melendez was sent to the Atlantic County jail.
__________
© 2025 The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J.
Visit www.pressofatlanticcity.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
