Mercer County Corrections Officer Sexually Assaulted Woman In A Park: Prosecutor

A Mercer County Corrections Officer has been charged with sexual assault a woman at a park in Trenton, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri and Trenton Police Director Ernest Parrey Jr. said on Monday. Donald J. Ryland, 44, is charged with one count of second-degree sexual assault.

He is accused of sexually assaulting a woman he drove to Cadwalader Park on Oct. 6. He took her there from the area of South Broad Street in Trenton in his car. When they arrived at Cadwalader Park, she got out of the car. He then ran after her, knocked her over and sexually assaulted her, authorities said. She was able to flee the area and find refuge with two guards at a park security gate.

Over the course of the next week, the Trenton Police Department and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office conducted an investigation in the city. On Sunday, she saw Ryland in Trenton and flagged down Trenton police, authorities said. She provided a description and license plate for his car.

Police then issued a broadcast, and Ryland’s car was stopped on Adeline Street in Trenton. Police then arrested Ryland.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the case should contact Mercer County Prosecutor’s SVU Detective Anthony Petracca at 609-989-6424 or Trenton Police Detective Laurel Rogers at 609-989-4155.

The attached image of Donald J. Ryland was provided by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office