Police Officer Injured Chasing Suspect

A South Brunswick Police Officer was injured during a foot chase of an emotionally disturbed suspect late this morning on Route 1. 

At about 11 a.m., police were dispatched to a complex on Independence Way for reports of an individual panhandling. 

"As one of the officers was questioning him, the suspect appeared to be a little off, so we were going to send him for an evaluation," said police spokesman Sgt. Jim Ryan. "When the officer was speaking to him, the suspect turned and began to run towards the highway and we were worried he was going to try and harm himself."

As the officer pursued the suspect from the northbound side of Route 1 to the southbound side, the heavy rains caused the officer to fall over the divider, which injured his shoulder, according to police.

The suspect jumped back to the northbound side, where traffic was now stopped due to the pursuit. The suspect was then taken into custody by the Plainsboro Police Department. 

The injured South Brunswick officer, who was not identified, was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released. 

Sgt. Ryan said the investigation is ongoing and that charges are pending against the suspect, whose identity has not yet been released.