Somerville Man Indicted For Attempted Murder Of Manville Police Lieutenant

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — A Somerville man was indicted by a Somerset County Grand Jury for attempted murder of a Manville Police Lieutenant, among other charges, stemming from a June 29 police pursuit.

Brian Niziolek, 37, of Fairview Avenue in Somerville, was indicted on Sept. 13 on charges of first-degree attempted murder, second- and third-degree aggravated assault, second-degree eluding, second-degree burglary, second-degree unlawful possession of an assault weapon, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, third-degree resisting arrest, third-degree motor vehicle left, fourth-degree possession of a high capacity ammunition magazine, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a knife.

On June 29, at around 2:19 p.m., Manville Police a woman reported a male acquaintance stole her car. Police located the vehicle being driven by the Niziolek, said Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Manville BoroughOfficer-in-Charge Lieutenant Craig Jeremiah.

Manville police officers ordered Niziolek to stop, but Niziolek put the vehicle in drive and accelerated toward a Manville Police Lt., hitting him with the front of the stolen vehicle, and propelling him into another vehicle, said McDonald.

After being hit, the Police Lt. and another Manville Police Officer went into their police vehicle and chased Niziolek as he fled through town. Niziolek hit several vehicles before he crashed into a home on North 5th Avenue and fled on foot, said McDonald.

Officers from the Hillsborough Police Department, Bridgewater Police Department, and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit joined in the chase.

Niziolek was later found hiding in the basement of a Brooks Boulevard home and officers took him into custody.

Police said they found a knife in the basement crawl space where Niziolek had been hiding. A search of the vehicle stolen by Niziolek revealed a MAC11 9mm assault weapon and a loaded 30-round extended magazine, said McDonald.

The Grand Jury also returned a second indictment charging Niziolek with second-degree certain
persons not to possess weapons based on Niziolek's possession of the MAC11 assault weapon.

Anyone with information relating to this investigation is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-231-7100, or the Manville Police Department at 908-725-1900, or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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