PERTH AMBOY, NJ—A local resident was arrested on Saturday night after a confrontation with Perth Amboy Police officers led to an officer being attacked by a dog. The incident occurred around 9:05 PM on Paderewski Avenue, initially in response to a noise complaint.
While officers were addressing the noise issue with neighbors, a resident became agitated and began threatening the officers from behind his fenced yard.
An 88-pound pit bull/mastiff mix, belonging to the resident, then charged and attacked one of the officers, knocking him to the ground.
Despite requests to restrain the dog, the resident failed to comply, leading both officers to discharge their weapons in self-defense.
Following the altercation, the resident barricaded himself in his home for over 90 minutes. Police employed de-escalation techniques and negotiations, eventually taking him into custody without further incident.
The dog was struck by gunfire during the encounter and later died despite veterinary efforts to save it. The incident is now also being considered for additional animal cruelty charges.
The 60-year-old male resident has been charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and disorderly conduct. The officers involved received hospital treatment for their injuries and were later released.
To clarify misinformation surrounding the event, the police department issued two Hixle alerts, the first at 10:50 PM to advise of ongoing police activity and a second at 2:01 AM to notify the public of the resolution and reopening of Paderewski Avenue. No firearms other than those of the officers were involved in the incident.
