Thursday, March 05, 2009

MORRISTOWN: A 42-year-old man was indicted on attempted murder charges for allegedly trying to mow down a police officer on the street after a police pursuit, Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi said.

Fedele Joseph Goduto also was charged with eluding and multiple counts of aggravated assault as well as possession of heroin with the intent to distribute it, according to authorities.

The case unfolded in Morristown on Aug. 8 at 12:08 p.m., when police investigating drug dealing near the intersection of Speedwell Avenue and Henry Street tried to stop Goduto in his 1991 BMW, authorities said.

Detectives Robert Gibbons, Thomas Loia and Tyrone Jackson observed a narcotic transaction take place near Speedwell Avenue and Logan Place and requested patrolman Scott Weaver pull Goduto, who was allegedly involved in the dealing, over. Goduto refused.

Detective Sergeant Michael Buckley and Detective Keith Cregan joined the pursuit through Morris Township into Morris Plains up Mountain Way to Tower Hill Road, where there's a "No Outlet" sign and a cul-de-sac.

Goduto seemed surrounded. But Goduto drove up and over a curb to evade patrols and accelerated the BMW straight for Loia, who had exited a police vehicle to help apprehend the driver.

The BMW was struck on the passenger side by the front of Sgt. Robert Holtz's marked car, preventing the BMW from striking Loia.

Loia had to jump over an embankment to avoid being struck and dropped 15 feet onto a lawn, suffering a fractured right fibula.

Before Goduto was stopped, he drove into four Morristown Police vehicles, and a pickup truck that had been operated by another officer, injuring Buckley and Gibbons.

Despite these pending charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitutions and relevant state law.