Lacey Police Charge Toms River Woman With Aggravated Assault On An Officer

Lacey police recently charged a Toms River woman with aggravated assault on a police officer after she sunk her fingernails in an officer's arm while officers were arrested a man for drunk driving, Police Chief David A. Paprota said.

Officer Anthony Sarno and Officer Dimitrios Tsarnas were arresting David Fazio, 30, Sunrise Boulevard, for driving under the influence at 12:31 p.m. on June 12 when Nina Duvigneau, 29, 1232 7th Avenue, jumped into the back of the police cruiser, the chief said.

She refused to get out of the car and had to be physically removed. She physically assaulted the officers, and resisted the officers when she was told she was under arrest for obstruction, Paprota said.

"She purposefully caused injury to Officer Anthony Sarno by forcefully gouging his right forearm with her fingernails," the chief said.

She was arrested and taken to police headquarters, where she was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and obstructing the administration of the law, Paprota said.

The scuffle started after Sarno conducted a motor vehicle stop when he saw Fazio failing to maintain his lane of travel on Route 9 near Sunrise Boulevard. Sarno stopped Fazio near the intersection of Hemlock Lane. He was taken to police headquarters where he was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane, the chief said.

His vehicle was impounded as per John's Law, Paprota said.