Police: photographer arrested at fatal accident scene for assaulting officer

JACKSON-Police in Jackson have arrested a man claiming to be a photographer at the scene of a fatal accident that occurred Thursday on South Hope Chapel Road. Police said Paul C. Williams of Toms River has been taken into custody after a scuffle with an officer.

One man was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, police said from an apparent medical episode.

According to police records in Toms River, it was not the first time Williams, who was working on assignment for the Asbury Park Press has had run-ins with police officers at the scene of serious motor vehicle crashes.

In August of 2017, Williams was arrested by Toms River Police after refusing to obey instructions from a police officer securing the scene of a serious accident involving a scooter. Williams was photographing the crash scene and victim as EMS workers were tending to the rider’s injuries. Williams, according to the report, was told not to proceed closer to the scene of the accident.

After ignoring the police officer’s orders with a brief back and forth dialogue, he was handcuffed and arrested.

According to Police…

As the accident investigation continued and the scene was being processed by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department and the Medical Examiner was on scene to begin an investigation, officers observed a male subject who had crossed the closed roadway, gone around the multiple emergency vehicles which were blocking the scene and was standing on the front yard of a residence directly in front of the active scene, and appeared to be taking pictures of the scene and the deceased male.

As the officers approached this male to have him back up from the scene, he became confrontational and made references that he was a photographer and was on private property. The homeowner of the property was then spoken with by officers and informed the officers that he did not know the male and did not give him permission to be on the property. The male was then escorted from the immediate scene by Sgt. Rich Bosley to another area where he could take photographs from.

As he appeared to be complying with Sgt. Bosley, he then turned and attempted to walk past the sergeant back to the scene. As the sergeant extended his hand to stop him, the male swung his hand and struck the sergeant’s arm while cursing at him not to touch him.

A brief struggle ensued and the 48 year old male was taken into custody and placed under arrest. The male was then transported to an area hospital to be checked for a complaint of pain before being brought back to police headquarters for processing. He was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and obstructing the administration of law. He was then lodged in the Ocean County Jail after being processed.

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