Man Turns Himself In, Wanted For Assaulting South Brunswick Cop

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Update: South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka announced Alan Fratello, Jr., the Monmouth Junction man who police were seeking for assaulting a police officer, has surrendered.

At 12:20 p.m. Wednesday, June 13, Fratello turned himself in after facing mounting pressure from law enforcement.

Chief Hayducka credited the public tips and pressure from social media with making the suspect give up.

"He knew we were going to track him down; it was just a matter of hours. Family members had reached out to detectives because they saw the media reports about him being wanted. He had no option but to surrender," said Chief Hayducka.

He thanked the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, Edison Police, Toms River Police and South Amboy Police for all the assistance they provided.

South Brunswick police were looking for the Monmouth Junction woman and man, who they say assaulted a police officer during a routine traffic stop Tuesday, grabbing him by the tie and dragging him alongside their moving car.

It all began at about 3:45 p.m. yesterday, when other drivers on Rt. 32 called 911 to report a 2016 grey Kia Sorrento driving erratically on 32 east near the intersection with Rt. 535.

Detectives Eric Tighelaar and Monica Posteraro located the Kia Sorrento and pulled it over. When Detective Tighelaar approached the car and began speaking with the driver, Alan Fratello Jr, 46, of Monmouth Junction, and the front passenger Jaqueline Smith, 41, of Monmouth Junction, the man suddenly grabbed the officer's tie and began driving away, police said.

Det. Tighelaar was forced to run alongside the vehicle, until he pushed himself off the car and was able to break free. Fratello then drove his car over the center median and headed back towards Rt. 130, police said, which prompted even more drivers on Rt. 130 to call 911, saying they saw the Kia drive erratically.

“It only takes a split second for a routine interaction to turn into a potential deadly situation," said South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka. "All the individuals involved are lucky that this did not end in tragedy.”

South Brunswick police have now put out an all-points bulletin to arrest the couple.

Fratello and Smith are already wanted by other police agencies for unrelated offenses, they said, and Fratello has ties to Edison and Toms River. The 2016 grey Kia Sorrento has a handicapped license plate.

Fratello has been charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and eluding.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Alan Fratello, Jr. and Jaqueline Smith, please contact the South Brunswick Police Department at 732-329-4646.

Photos released by South Brunswick police.