MANVILLE: Two indicted after detective injured

By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
   A Flemington resident who allegedly ran over a Somerset County task force officer during a Feb. 25 drug bust on South Main Street was indicted Thursday on a charge of first-degree attempted murder.
   Jesse Paulino, 24, also was indicted on charges of third-degree possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, third-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine, third-degree resisting arrest and two counts of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose while committing certain controlled-dangerous-substance crimes.
   Donna Miller, 44, of South Main Street, was indicted on a charge of third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine. Bail was set at $25,000 with 10 percent to apply.
   Ms. Miller was released after posting bail.
   According to Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest, members of the Gangs and Guns Task Force received information Feb. 25 that a narcotics transaction between Ms. Miller and Mr. Paulino would take place at 7 p.m. on South Main Street. Mr. Forrest said Ms. Miller was seen by detectives entering Mr. Paulino’s vehicle, then exiting a few seconds later, consistent with a narcotics transaction.
   Mr. Forrest said detectives approached Mr. Paulino’s vehicle as it attempted to make a K-turn in the parking lot, during which they identified themselves as police officers and ordered him to stop. Although he complied at first, Mr. Paulino then deliberately accelerated his vehicle into a detective, knocking him over and pinning him beneath the vehicle, Mr. Forrest said.
   At this time, Mr. Forrest said, additional officers tried to remove Mr. Paulino from the vehicle, but he struggled and fought with another detective.
   The vehicle was lifted off the task force officer, who was airlifted to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick with serious injuries to his head, neck, back and lower extremities. Mr. Forrest has said the officer has since been released from the hospital.
   A subsequently executed search warrant on Mr. Paulino’s vehicle found less than half an ounce of cocaine, two cellular telephones and $1,911. Mr. Forrest said the cocaine was estimated to have a street value of $500.
   As of Friday, Mr. Paulino was lodged in Somerset County Jail on $500,000 cash bail.