Man Used Truck To 'Attack' NJ Planned Parenthood Clinic: Cops

EAST ORANGE, NJ — Authorities charged a Massachusetts driver with aggravated assault and other offenses after he allegedly plowed a stolen bakery delivery truck into a Planned Parenthood health clinic in Essex County earlier this week.

Essex County prosecutors allege that Marckles Alcius, 31, carried out a “truck attack” using a stolen bakery vehicle at the Planned Parenthood clinic on the 500-block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in East Orange on Valentine’s Day. He's since pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

Alcius’ last known address is Lowell, Massachusetts, authorities said.

Prosecutors said that three people – a staff member and two patients, including a pregnant woman –sustained minor injuries in the crash. EMS responders transported two of the victims to nearby hospitals, and one victim drove herself to the hospital.

All three were treated for their injuries and released, according to a joint statement from Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert Laurino and East Orange Public Safety Director Sheliah Coley.

Authorities charged Alcius with attempting to cause widespread injury or damage, a second-degree offense. He was also charged with six counts of aggravated assault, two weapons offenses for using the bakery delivery truck as a weapon and theft of the bakery delivery truck.

An investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be pending, prosecutors said.

Alcius made his first court appearance Friday. He was arraigned on the charges and entered a plea of not guilty.

Alcius is being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark pending a hearing on a detention motion filed by the Prosecutor’s Office. His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 21, prosecutors said.

Less than 24 hours after the alleged truck attack at the East Orange Planned Parenthood clinic, the New Jersey Assembly passed two bills that would help to expand access to reproductive health services in the state.

Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: Shutterstock