Incident That Caused A Police Officer To Shoot His Weapon Under Investigation In Middlesex County

A police officer fired his weapon at the target of a drug bust in Sayreville on Thursday after the suspect attempted to flee the scene by striking multiple police vehicles and a detective with his car - the incident is now under investigation by The N.J. Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team.

Isaiah D. Roberts, 38, of Parlin, was the target of an undercover drug operation conducted by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force behind the Rite Aid Pharmacy at 3553 Washington Road in Sayreville.

It was about 5:15 p.m. when Roberts showed up in his black 2006 Chrysler 300 to what he believed was a heroin purchase.

As he noticed undercover officers approaching, he attempted to turn his vehicle and flee the scene while striking multiple marked and unmarked police vehicles with his car in the process.

Roberts also struck a detective from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office who was later treated and released with minor injuries from the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick.

“At that point, an officer from the Perth Amboy Police Department assigned to the Prosecutor’s Office fired a rifle at Roberts,” according to the Attorney General’s Office. “Roberts was not struck by the gunfire and continued to flee the lot, striking three additional marked and unmarked police vehicles.”

He was arrested without further incident after a collision with police vehicle and found to have 10 “bricks,” or 50 single-dose glassine folds, of heroin on his person.

The Shooting Response Team has charged Roberts with second-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree eluding police, and third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose (his vehicle).

Narcotics charges are also being filed by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Roberts is currently lodged in the Middlesex County Jail with bail set at $500,000.

The incident remains under investigation by the Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team.