SOUTH BRUNSWICK – A team of South Brunswick police officers are being credited with diffusing a volatile situation when an armed suspect allegedly demanded to be shot by police.
The incident began around 7:25 pm on June 18 when Officer Jarrid Harpster reportedly observed Dominick Zippo, 26, of Monmouth Junction, walking on Maple Street, according to a statement prepared by the South Brunswick Police Department.
Harpster reportedly knew that Zippo had several outstanding warrants, including two for robbery. When Zippo saw the officer, he allegedly fled into a residence on Maple Street, police said.
Sgt. Anthony Pisano, Officer Peter Santa and Officer George Morgan arrived as backup. The team made entry into the residence and were able to contain a loose pit bull dog in a back room, according to the statement.
As the officers searched the residence, Pisano opened a refrigerator and found Zippo – who is 5 feet 7 inches tall and 140 pounds – allegedly squeezed into it to hide, police said. Zippo was reportedly holding a five-inch knife and yelling for officers to shoot him, police said.
Santa and Morgan purportedly began to negotiate with Zippo to drop the knife, according to the statement. As the officers spoke to him, they were eventually able to remove him from the refrigerator, police said.
Since the officers struggled with Zippo and allegedly repeatedly ordered him to let go of the knife, but he refused, Harpster and Lt. Frank Lombardo then stepped in and pepper sprayed Zippo. Zippo dropped the knife and was taken into custody, according to the statement.
Zippo was charged with robbery, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice. He also had multiple outstanding warrants from the Middlesex County Sheriff Office, Edison, Woodbridge, Milltown and North Brunswick.
He was taken to a medical facility for an evaluation and then lodged in the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick on more than $75,000 bail.
Police Chief Raymond Hayducka praised the police work that resolved the situation.
“These officers pursued a wanted fugitive into a residence. In the residence they were confronted by the fugitive armed with a knife. They worked in a space no bigger than eight feet wide as they negotiated to resolve the situation. When speaking did not work, they took decisive action and neutralized the threat by overpowering the suspect. They showed courage and tenacity in successfully disarming and arresting the fugitive. Their actions exemplify the best of our agency,” he said.