Gloucester Township Man Attacked Child, Cops: Police

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Gloucester Township man was arrested after using a racial slur against a child while he was shaking him, threatening to burn down the house and attacking police officers, police said on Monday.

Leonard W. Antonelli was arrested Sunday night after Gloucester Township police responded to a home on the 1100 block of Little Gloucester Road on reports that the home was damaged and that a family member had threatened to burn down the house.

Officers spoke with Antonelli and the homeowner, but Antonelli only became more irate when they tried to calm him down, police said. He took a fighting stance when officers told him he was under arrest, police said.

Officers continued to try to de-escalate the situation and ultimately attempted to handcuff him, but he attempted to pull away, police said. He then ran toward one of the officers and threw a punch, according to police.

Officers wrestled him to the ground and eventually placed him under arrest, police said. No one was injured during this fight, police said.

“While we understand that domestic disputes will increase because of the COVID-19 restrictions, we will not tolerate our officers getting assaulted,” Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins said. “These officers are there to be peacemakers, and their actions prevented other family members from getting injured. Our officers are out serving every day, under very stressful conditions. It is intolerable that they have to worry about getting assaulted while also trying to protect themselves from the COVID-19 virus. I am proud of the professionalism and restraint showed by our officers during this incident.”

Antonelli was charged with one count of third-degree resisting arrest, one count of fourth-degree obstruction of the administration of law and fourth-degree cruelty and neglect of a child. Antonelli was processed and released on a criminal summons pending court.