East Brunswick Cop Attacked During Traffic Stop: Police

By Carly Baldwin:

An East Brunswick police officer is back at work after he was attacked by a Woodbridge man wielding a knife on Sunday, Nov. 8.

At approximately 9:15 a.m. that day, Patrolman Bruce Diamond with the East Brunswick police pulled over a 2000 Honda Civic in the parking lot of the American Office Mall (275 Rt. 18).

The car was stopped because it had been reported stolen out of Woodbridge the day before, police said. The driver, Devin Seara, 26, of Woodbridge, started to get out of the car, and the officer told him to stay in the vehicle. Instead, police say, Seara tried to reach under the steering wheel in an attempt to restart the car, police said.

Diamond told Seara to stop and tried to physically pull him out of the car and that’s when Seara reached into the front part of the center console and pulled out a knife, according to police. The officer said he grabbed his hand, and a physical struggle ensued. The officer injured his hand, and was cut in his arms and legs during the struggle, authorities said.

At one point, Seara tried to get back into the vehicle, but was again restrained by Diamond, authorities said. As the officer tried to arrest him, Seara ran off towards Crosspointe development, located off Tices Lane.

Diamond gave chase, and other officer responded to the scene, police said. Shortly after, Seara was found hiding behind a bush on Crosspointe Drive. Police said Seara again resisted arrest but was eventually taken into custody. The knife was found on scene near the bush where Seara was hiding, authorities said.

Seara was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and treated for an injured arm. Diamond was treated for an injury to his hand, and lacerations to his arms and legs from the scuffle.

“Patrolman Diamond was not admitted to the hospital; he was treated and released,” Lt. Kevin Zebro of the East Brunswick PD told Patch. “He is OK -- minor injury to his thumb, and some cuts to his hand and arm. He returned back to work for his next tour.”

Seara was released from the hospital, taken back to headquarters and charged with vehicle theft, aggravated assault on a police officer, possession of drug paraphernalia and other charges. He was taken to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in lieu of $50,000 bail.