MANVILLE, N.J. – A Somerset County Grand Jury indicted Brian Niziolek, 37, of Somerville, New Jersey on September 13 on an eleven-count indictment. The charges include 1st degree attempted murder, multiple counts of aggravated assault, eluding, burglary, and unlawful possession of weapons.
These charges stem from a June 29 police pursuit in Manville.
According to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, on June 29 at around 2:19 PM, Manville Police received a motor vehicle theft report. During the subsequent investigation, officers located the vehicle, driven by Niziolek. When approached and ordered to stop by Manville police, Niziolek accelerated towards a Manville Police Lieutenant, striking him and propelling him into another vehicle. The Lieutenant and another officer pursued Niziolek, who crashed the stolen vehicle into a North 5th Avenue residence and fled on foot.
Several law enforcement agencies joined in capturing Niziolek, who was found hiding in the basement of a Brooks Boulevard home. Officers also recovered a knife in the crawl space where Niziolek was hiding and a MAC11 9mm assault weapon with a loaded 30-round extended magazine in the stolen vehicle.
A second indictment was returned against Niziolek for unlawfully possessing the assault weapon.
Authorities have requested that anyone with additional information contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office or the Manville Police Department. Anonymous tips can be made through the STOPit app or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line.