Gloucester Township Police Officer Injured During Arrest of Hitch Hiker / NIXLE
Friday, April 18, 2014
Media Release
GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP--On April 17, 2014 at approximately 5:17 P.M., the Gloucester Township Police Department (GTPD) responded to a report of a male subject hitch hiking on Sicklerville Road. The officer located a male, later identified as Michael Thomas, age 58, in the area of the Villari's Lakeside Inn.
During the interview it was discovered Michael Thomas had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for a traffic offense.
As the officer attempted to arrest the male he made various statements that he was not going back to jail and then ran off to prevent his arrest for the warrant. The officer gave chase as the male discarded several packets of heroin. The officer caught the male, who continued to resist, and became involved in a violent struggle with the subject resulting in the officer sustaining a hand injury. Additional GTPD officers arrived on scene and were able to take the male into custody.
The officer was treated at a nearby hospital for the injury and later released pending further medical evaluation.
The accused, Michael Thomas, was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. He was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and possession of a controlled dangerous substance and was remanded to Camden County Jail in default of $35,000/10% bail.
Accused: Michael L. Thomas - Last Known Address: 4000 unit block Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ
