Susanne Cervenka

@scervenka

TOMS RIVER - A 29-year-old Toms River man was shot at least once by police after they say he pulled a pellet gun on officers investigating a suspicious car.

The man, identified as Timothy Sauers, was taken to an unnamed hospital by Toms River EMS, according to Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's office. Sauers is expected to survive.

The incident unfolded at the same time that a sniper ambushed police in Dallas, killing five and wounding seven during protests against officer-involved shootings around the country. Della Fave said the Toms River shooting has no connection to the Dallas shooting.

According to police, officers on patrol approached a suspicious vehicle at 11:32 p.m. at Cedar and Haines drives with the 29-year-old Toms River man inside.

Officers say Sauers jumped out of the vehicle and pulled a gun on them. He was shot before running from officers and jumping a cement bulkhead into the Toms River.

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The gun Sauers brandished later turned out to be an airsoft black replica automatic handgun that had the orange tip — a safety feature that distinguishes it from a real handgun — removed.

The shooting occurred off a well-manicured street with upscale homes that bordered Brown's Woods Preserve. Sauers lived about three miles away from the park.

Below: Watch raw video from the scene

Neighbors said they heard yelling before the sounds of 10 to 12 gunshots.

"It was pretty distinct that it wasn't fireworks," said Kevin Gilmore, who lives in the area of the incident.

Gilmore said he went to his home's attic to get a better view of what was happening. There, he was able to see authorities searching the opposite side of the Toms River with lights.

Gilmore said he thought the search was over and went to bed, but returned again to the attic to watch the search after a bright light panned across his window.

He saw several police boats as well as a helicopter searching the area. Gilmore said soon after it appeared as if officers found the man in the park. He said he saw about eight people carrying a person out of the park on a stretcher.

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Toms River Police along with New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, Ocean County Sheriff's Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office searched for the man for an hour before he was found by Tactical Response Officers.

No officers were injured during the incident.

Sauers faces three charges: unlawful possession of a weapon, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Della Fave said other charges could be pending.

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