Couple Plotted To Kill Police, Officers Nearly Mowed Down In BurlCo: Chief

EVESHAM, NJ — Authorities accused a couple of trying to kill officers Sunday in Evesham after a man repeatedly accelerated his car into several patrol vehicles, police said.

Marc Ferraiolo and Ruth Patton both face significant charges, including two counts of attempted murder of a police officer for Ferraiolo. Officials placed both in the Burlington County Jail.

Several officers were treated on-scene for non-life-threatening injuries. A police K-9 underwent veterinary care after occupying a police vehicle that Ferraiolo struck several times while two officers were outside of the car, authorities said.

The husband and wife hatched a plan earlier that evening to kill officers, Evesham Police Chief Walt Miller said Sunday.

"Their plan wasn’t to identify two specific officers," Miller said at a news conference. "Their plan was to kill two Evesham police officers — whoever they were able to encounter that night."

Police believe the couple plotted to kill officers in retribution for ongoing police actions against them, Miller said. The chief withheld information about those prior encounters.

Initial Incident

The series of incidents began at about 1 a.m. Sunday, when a crash occurred on Taunton Lake Road, Miller said. Patrol officers saw a white Hyundai Genesis traveling west. The car went an estimated 80 mph in a 45-mph zone and appeared to increase speed as it passed officers investigating the collision, authorities said.

The officers radioed a vehicle description to nearby police, who found the Hyundai Genesis at Willowbend and Evans Roads, according to police. When an officer tried to pull over the vehicle, the driver ran a red light, Miller said.

Police recognized the car from "numerous recent contacts" and identified Ferraiolo as the suspect, the agency said. Officers terminated the short chase because of the risks it would pose for officers and the public.

An Evesham Municipal Court judge found probable cause for issuing a warrant to Ferraiolo for eluding. Officers went to his home to serve the warrant and take Ferraiolo into custody.

Contact At Their Home

Officers at Ferraiolo's home saw him pulling into the driveway just after 2 a.m. Sunday. His wife, Patton, exited the vehicle, and officers told Ferraiolo to remain in the car. Ferraiolo ignored their commands, pulling forward and then reversing "at a high rate of speed, almost striking two officers," police said.

While leaving the driveway, Ferraiolo struck a police vehicle that contained K-9 Tango, authorities said. Evesham police believe the collision was intentional.

"Ferraiolo then drove directly towards two officers who had evaded him while he was backing out of his driveway," Evesham PD said. "This was also a purposeful act to hit the officers with his vehicle."

Driver Flees Scene Again, Police Say

Ferraiolo continued to drive across neighboring lawns and intentionally slammed into the K-9 vehicle three more times before trying to escape again, police said.

The man then struck another responding vehicle before speeding east down Marlborough Avenue, police said. Then Ferraiolo hit another patrol vehicle and a parked car on the same road, by Azalea Terrace, according to law enforcement. The final impact disabled Ferraiolo's vehicle.

Officers broke the car's window and removed Ferraiolo. He received medical attention on-scene before officials took him to the hospital for evaluation.

During the process of removing Ferraiolo from the car, Patton interfered with officers' actions and advised that she would kill police, authorities said. She was subsequently arrested.

Ferraiolo was charged with the following:

• attempted murder of a police officer (first-degree, two counts)
• aggravated assault on police (third-degree, two counts)
• eluding (third-degree, two counts)
• criminal mischief (fourth-degree, four counts)
• injuring a police canine (fourth-degree)

Patton was charged with third-degree terroristic threats and fourth-degree obstruction of justice.

"I hope the seriousness of the charges are weighed into the fact of whether detention is continued," Miller said.