A police officer in Essex County shot and killed a coyote Thursday after the animal viciously attacked a mother and her 4-year-old son, authorities said.

The 37-year-old Fairfield woman was walking in the park shortly before 7 p.m., pushing her son in a stroller near tennis courts and community pool, which are next to a wooded area, when the attacks occurred, said Fairfield Police Chief Anthony G. Manna.

“As she was walking, another individual who was also walking alerted her to the fact that there was a coyote walking directly behind her,” Manna said.

When the woman turned around, the coyote lunged at her, Manna said. “The victim fell to the ground and the stroller tipped over,” Manna said.

The coyote bit the woman on the back of her leg before going after the child and bitting him on his right leg, the chief said. The mother got up and righted the stroller, Manna said.

“She attempted to flee, at which time the coyote again lunged at her,” Manna said. “The coyote then ran into the adjacent wooded area.”

The mother and child were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and evaluation. Fairfield police also closed the park and shut down a youth soccer game and pick-up basketball game.

“The New Jersey Conservation Department, the Department of Environmental Protection and Associated Humane Society were all contacted for assistance and responded,” Manna said.

Several police officers searched the area for the coyote. About 8:40 p.m., Sgt. Frank Tracey saw a coyote traveling along a fence line in the 200 block of Big Piece Road.

The officer got out of his patrol vehicle with his M4 police rifle and entered a back yard, where he saw the coyote emerge from behind the pool.

Manna said the animal “began to aggressively approach the officer.”

“In order to protect himself, the officer fired several shots, striking the coyote and killing it,” Manna said.

The Associated Humane Society took possession of the carcass in order to conduct testing for rabies, according to the chief.

Manna said during the search, several residents along Big Piece Road told police a neighbor’s Doberman Pinscher had been attacked the night before, apparently by a coyote.

“It is unclear if this is the same animal as the residents described,” Manna said, adding that coyote that attacked the dog was “much larger.”

“Several Big Piece Road residents have reported seeing and hearing a large number of coyotes behind their homes,” Manna said.

“The Fairfield Police Department is still cautioning all residents in the area of Big Piece Road and all those who use the recreation complex that they still need to exercise great caution when walking around their yards or in the park” Manna said.

“The police department intends to deploy officers with rifles in the park and at several scheduled events taking place at the community pool and a nearby school to assure the safety of the public as best as we can” the chief said.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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