Lesser Conviction For SB Man Accused Of Grabbing Cop's Tie

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A man who police say grabbed a South Brunswick police officer's tie, and dragged him along his car as he tried to drive off during a motor vehicle stop, was found guilty Thursday for one count of eluding police, a more minor offense than the aggravated assault he was originally charged with.

Alan Fratello Jr., 47, who lives in Monmouth Junction, is facing up to 20 years for the incident, due to his prior criminal convictions. In court this week, Fratello denied that he grabbed the plainclothes police officer's tie and instead said he drove off because the officer struck him in the head.

The incident happened on the afternoon of June 12, 2018, when drivers on Rt. 32 called 911 to report a 2016 grey Kia Sorrento driving erratically near the intersection with Rt. 535.

Plainclothes South Brunswick police officers located the car and pulled it over. Detective Eric Tighelaar said when he approached the car and began speaking with the driver, Fratello, Fratello suddenly grabbed the officer's tie and began driving away, police said. Det. Tighelaar said he was forced to run alongside the vehicle, until he pushed himself off the car and was able to break free.

In court this week, Tighelaar testified that he thought he was going to have to shoot Fratello to get him to release his tie, MyCentralJersey reported. Fratello was adamant that he did not grab or pull the officer's tie. He said the officer instead punched him twice during the car stop and berated him about his driving, calling him a "scumbag" and yelling and cursing that he could have hit someone. Fratello claimed he drove off just to avoid being hit again by the officer. He also said he was originally rushing because his fiancee, Jaqueline Smith, needed to get to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital due to complications from a recent medical procedure.

When Fratello drove off, he drove over the center media and headed back down Rt. 32 west, prompting another batch of fellow drivers that day to call 911 reporting his erratic driving.

Fratello was originally charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and eluding. But this Thursday, a jury only found him guilty of second-degree eluding, a comparatively minor charge.

Fratello has prior felony convictions, which he served five years in prison for. He was on probation and driving with a suspended license when this incident happened last year.

In addition to Tighelaar, South Brunswick officers Captain Ron Seaman, Sergeant Mike Pellino, Sergeant Nathan Labuda, Detective Monica Posteraro and Officer Bryan Garrison all testified in the trial.

Fratello will be sentenced May 17.

Past Patch reporting on this incident: Man Turns Himself In, Wanted For Assaulting South Brunswick Cop