Fight Over A Woman Led To Middletown Man Being Killed By Car: Police

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — New details have been released in the death of a Middletown man last Tuesday, who prosecutors say was killed after another man ran him over in an Old Bridge parking lot.

The two men were arguing over a woman who had dated both men, according to an affidavit released by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's office.

Marvin Tyler, 32, of Sayreville, turned himself in Friday and has been charged with first-degree manslaughter in the death of Jason Freeman, 36, of Middletown. Tyler has since been released on home detention and his next court date is January 13 at 9 a.m. in Judge Paone’s courtroom.

Released by the prosecutor, here are details of the alleged manslaughter:

Police say Tyler ran over Freeman just before 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29. Multiple witnesses at the scene told police they witnessed the entire argument break out between the two men, and said they saw Tyler run over Freeman "several times after a verbal and physical altercation."

On Friday, four days after the incident, Tyler turned himself into the Middlesex County Prosecutor's office with his lawyer present. He told detectives the following account of what happened that evening.

Tyler said he arrived at the parking lot at 100 Perrine Road in Old Bridge shortly before 5 p.m. to pick up his girlfriend, identified by police only as PG. The woman had previously dated Freeman, said police.

He said he was approached by Freeman who asked "why he was in his girlfriend's car." Tyler was driving a 2016 white Kia.

Police would later learn that the Kia was registered to the woman, PG. Several days earlier, on Nov. 24, the girlfriend had filed a report with report with Sayreville Police, saying that Freeman was harassing her.

The two men argued and Freeman ultimately entered the Kia, and took paperwork out of it as well as a brand-new iPhone that was in the car. Tyler grabbed the phone back and put it in his pocket. Tyler told police Freeman took the phone from him a second time and then pulled out a knife, at which point Tyler said he stopped fighting with him.

He said Freeman then tried to slash the Kia's tires with the knife. Tyler said he got behind the wheel of the Kia and tried to flee the area as this was happening. He admitted to police that he ran over Freeman multiple times while Freeman was attempting to slash the tires, according to the affidavit. Tyler drove away from the scene, not contacting police or emergency medical services, said police.

When police got there shortly after 5 p.m. they found Freeman lying on the asphalt, unconscious and not breathing. EMS arrived and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

One of the witnesses at the scene remained there until police came and told police she works with the girlfriend at 400 Perrine Road. She told police that Freeman was an ex-boyfriend of the woman's.

Police also found the knife at the scene, Freeman's car and his phone. Police searched his phone and found a text message he had sent to the female co-worker, indicating that he was outside to pick up the girlfriend, PG.

That witness told police to look for the white Kia, which had damage to its rear passenger door.

This is an active and ongoing investigation anyone with information or surveillance footage of the area is still asked to call Detective Michael Cronin of the Old Bridge Police Department at (732) 721-5600 or Detective Christopher Pennisi of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732)745-4060.

Initial report: Middletown Man Run Over After Argument, Suspect Still At Large: Cops (Nov. 30)

Arrest Made In Death Of Middletown Man Run Over In Parking Lot (Dec. 3)