Trenton
-- Attorney General Zulima V. Farber announced
that a Cumberland County resident has
been charged by the Division of Criminal
Justice with assaulting a state trooper
after fleeing a motor vehicle stop. The
State Grand Jury indictment results from
a December, 2004 incident in Bridgeton
City after the defendant disobeyed the
trooper’s order, fled the scene
of a motor vehicle stop, and resisted
arrest by assaulting the trooper. The
investigation was conducted by the Attorney
General’s Shooting Response Team.
The State Grand Jury indictment charged
Parker Allen Custis, 32, State Highway
77, Bridgeton, Cumberland County, with
aggravated assault, resisting arrest,
hindering apprehension or prosecution,
and possession of a controlled dangerous
substance (CDS). Custis remains incarcerated
in the Cumberland County Jail on unrelated
robbery and CDS charges. Custis faces
up to 15 years in state prison upon conviction
of all third degree charges contained
in the indictment.
The Attorney General’s Shooting
Response Team investigation determined
that the incident occurred on Dec. 17,
2004 when Trooper Sheila McKaig, assigned
to the Troop A Tactical Patrol Unit, was
on patrol in Bridgeton City. At approximately
9:03 p.m., Trooper McKaig observed a motor
vehicle violation and proceeded to stop
Custis while operating a 1991 Ford Taurus.
During the motor vehicle stop, Custis
exited the vehicle. Trooper McKaig ordered
Custis to return to the vehicle. Custis
ignored Trooper McKaig’s order and
fled the scene on foot with Trooper McKaig
in pursuit. Trooper McKaig encountered
Custis behind 154 West Commerce St. where
Custis resisted arrest, a violent struggle
ensued, which resulted in the aggravated
assault on Trooper McKaig. Trooper McKaig
fired a single shot during the encounter.
The shot did not hit Custis. Bridgeton
City police officers responded to the
scene, observed the violent struggle,
and assisted in the arrest. Subsequent
to the arrest, marijuana and crack cocaine
were recovered.
The Attorney General’s Shooting
Response Team investigation determined
that Trooper McKaig’s use of force
was legally justified. Trooper McKaig,
35, graduated from the 122nd State Police
Recruit Training Class in May, 2001. Trooper
McKaig remains assigned to the Troop A
Tactical Patrol Unit.
The State Grand Jury indictment was handed-up
to Mercer County Superior Court Judge
Linda R. Feinberg on Feb. 2. An indictment
is merely a charge. The defendant is presumed
innocent until proven guilty in a court
of law. The case has been assigned to
the Cumberland County Superior Court for
trial. Deputy Attorney General Martin
Mooney of the Division of Criminal Justice
presented the case to the State Grand
Jury.
Additional information, including a copy
of the State Grand Jury indictment, is
available on the Division of Criminal
Justice Web site at www.njdcj.org.
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