Advisory

Suspect Arrested after Armed Confrontation

Chief Raymond Hayducka credited a team of South Brunswick Police officers with diffusing a volatile situation in which an armed suspect demanded to be shot by police. The incident unfolded on Saturday night at 7:25 pm when Officer Jarrid Harpster observed Dominick Zippo, age 26 of Monmouth Junction walking on Maple Street. Officer Harpster knew that Zippo had several outstanding warrants including two for robbery. Zippo saw the officer and fled into a residence on Maple Street.

Sergeant Anthony Pisano, Officer Peter Santa, and Officer George Morgan arrived as backup. The team made entry into the residence and were able to contain a loose pitbull dog in a back room. As the officers searched the residence, Sergeant Pisano opened a refrigerator and found the 5’07", 140 pound Zippo had squeezed into it to hide. Zippo was holding a five inch knife and yelling for officers to shoot him. Officer Peter Santa and Officer George Morgan began to negotiate with Zippo to drop the knife, but he refused. As the officers spoke to him, they observed him lower his head and look away, with that the two officers grabbed Zippo from the refrigerator. They pulled him onto the kitchen floor and held his arms down. The officers struggled with Zippo and repeatedly ordered him to let go of the knife, but he refused. Officer Harpster and Lieutenant Frank Lombardo then stepped in and pepper sprayed Zippo. Zippo dropped the knife and was taken into custody.

Zippo was arrested and charged with robbery, resisting arrest, and obstruction of justice. Zippo had multiple outstanding warrants from Middlesex County Sheriff, Edison, Woodbridge, Milltown, and North Brunswick. He was taken to a medical facility for an evaluation then lodged in the Middlesex County Correction Center on more than $75,000 bail.

Chief Raymond Hayducka praised the outstanding police work that resolved the dangerous situation. “These officers pursued a wanted fugitive into a residence. In the residence they were confronted by the fugitive armed with a knife. They worked in a space no bigger than 8 feet wide as they negotiated to resolve the situation. When speaking did not work, they took decisive action and neutralized the threat by overpowering the suspect. They showed courage and tenacity in successfully disarming and arresting the fugitive. Their actions exemplify the best of our agency,” Chief Hayducka said.