A Belleville police officer was hospitalized Sunday night after being struck by a car near Branch Brook Park, and officers opened fire as the driver fled the scene. The confrontation happened on Mill Road, where the officer had reportedly been trying to apprehend a suspect when the car struck him, according to the mayor. The officer was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, and the investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.
According to ABC7 New York, the injured officer was taken to a hospital following the collision. The outlet reports the officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries after the suspect struck him with the vehicle, an account attributed to the mayor. Police then opened fire on the suspect, who fled the scene, and it remains unclear whether the gunfire struck the vehicle's driver.
An earlier report from rlsmedia.com described the incident unfolding shortly before 8 p.m. in the area of Mill Street, where police were reportedly involved in a pursuit that led to a confrontation. That account noted officials had not yet confirmed whether anyone was struck by gunfire or sustained injuries, a detail that stands in contrast to the later hospitalization and injury account tied to the officer. Preliminary reports also indicated an officer may have been assaulted during the incident and that shots were fired by law enforcement.
Investigation Still Open, Few Details Released
Authorities have not released details regarding the circumstances leading up to the incident or whether any suspects have been taken into custody, per the same rlsmedia.com account. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office was notified to assist with the investigation, the outlet reported. Officials said the investigation remains ongoing, with additional information expected as authorities confirm details.
A separate report from TAPinto similarly described Belleville police officers being hospitalized after one was struck by a car during a chase, noting that the suspect fled and that the shooting remains under investigation. Neither the suspect's identity nor any arrest has been confirmed in the available reporting.
Pattern Of Officers Struck By Vehicles In New Jersey
Sunday's incident adds to a string of recent New Jersey cases involving officers and vehicles. A Middle Township police officer was seriously injured after being struck by a suspected impaired driver Friday night, according to NBC Philadelphia. In a separate case, FOX 5 New York reported that a 37-year-old pedestrian was killed after being struck by a vehicle driven by an off-duty Newark police officer.
No further details on the Belleville suspect's condition, identity, or potential charges have been confirmed as of Sunday night. Hoodline will update this story as authorities release additional information.
