Cop Arrested In Belmar After Striking Woman, Gunfire: Prosecutor

A police officer was arrested Friday for striking a woman and getting into altercation with several people in Belmar, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said. His gun also discharged.

Kevin O’Brien of Asbury Park, a NJ Transit police officer who was off-duty at the time, was arrested after an altercation ensued with several individuals who were on a porch. During the altercation, O’Brien struck a woman who had been on the porch, according to the MCPO.

The incident happened at approximately 11:41 p.m. Thursday evening when the Belmar Police Department responded to a disturbance in the area of 11th and Ocean Avenues.

When the woman’s family members came to her aid, O’Brien’s weapon became dislodged. O’Brien attempted to re-gain possession of his firearm when the gun accidentally discharged, the MCPO said.

There were no injuries as a result of the weapon firing. The woman suffered minor injuries as a result of being struck by O’Brien, the MCPO said.

O’Brien has been charged with the following offenses as a result of the altercation: simple assault, a disorderly persons offense, and disorderly conduct, a petty disorderly persons offense.

O’Brien was also charged with a local ordinance violation as a result of the discharge of a firearm within city limits.