Man Charged After Disarming Mercer Cop, Threatening To Use Gun: PD

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A Pennsylvania man was charged after he disarmed a police officer and threatened to use the service weapon against him on Thursday, West Windsor Police said.

On Thursday, at 4:44 p.m., the West Windsor Police was dispatched to TJ Maxx at the Nassau Park Pavilion on a report of a shoplifting in progress.

TJ Maxx Loss Prevention investigators told police they were monitoring a man wearing an orange shirt and camo pants concealing large amounts of merchandise. Ptl. Fattibene was working an Extra Duty security detail in full police uniform at Wegmans Food Market when he went on foot towards TJ Maxx and saw the man walking through the parking lot and pushing a shopping cart, police said.

When Fattibene approached the man, later identified as Nicholas Giovannozzi of PA, he began to accelerate his pace, police said.

As the officer closed the distance, Giovannozzi pushed the shopping cart away and began to flee on foot. The office was able to hold the man in investigative detention. When the officer asked Giovannozzi to place his hands behind his back, he said, "I'm not going back to jail...you're going to have to kill me," according to police.

Fattibene then used de-escalation techniques but authorities said Giovannozzi became an active resistor. While Fattibene tried to handcuff Giovannozzi, he grabbed the officer’s service weapon and threatened to use it, police said.

With help from a TJ Maxx Investigator, the officer was able to retrieve the handcuffs, and get one of Giovannozzi’s hands cuffed, police said. Another officer, Ptl. LaForge, arrived as a backup and they were able to handcuff Giovannozzi.

Giovannozzi was found in possession of suspected CDS and multiple burglar tools including a razor blade and a pair of pliers, authorities said.

Officers Fattibene and LaForge sustained minor injuries that were treated at the scene by the West Windsor Township Division of Fire & Emergency Services. Additionally, portions of Fattibene's uniform were also damaged, police said.

Giovannozzi was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for evaluation. and then taken to the WWPD Headquarters for processing.

He was charged with disarming a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, resisting arrest and other offenses.

"This incident only illustrates the danger that all of our Officers put themselves potentially into on any given shift,” Chief Garofalo said. “We are very pleased to include that Ptl. Fattibene and Ptl. LaForge will resume their normal scheduled Patrol duties after this incident.”

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