Stafford PD Pulls Guns On Wrong Driver In Road Rage Investigation

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Stafford police mistakenly drew their guns at the victim of a recent road rage incident rather than the armed suspect, authorities reported on Monday.

The officers, who were unnamed, pulled over a vehicle in a Wawa parking lot in early June. They drew their weapons because they thought the vehicle belonged to the armed suspect, according to Stafford police. They quickly realized that it was the victim's vehicle.

Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy told Jersey Shore Online he met with both Barnegat and Stafford chiefs and determined there was a miscommunication between the officer and dispatcher. From now on, during license plate confirmation, they'll be confirmed in a specific way to avoid confusion, according to Jersey Shore Online.

The road rage incident took place on Route 72 E in Barnegat, Stafford police said. Barnegat no longer has local dispatch, so the County Sheriff's Department alerted Stafford police.

Stafford PD received a report in early June of a road rage incident in which the perpetrator pulled a gun on another individual involved.

Patch is awaiting word on the status of the unnamed suspect.

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com.