SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A South Brunswick police officer shot and killed a dog Thursday after the animal attacked him while he was responding to a report of loose livestock, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutor Linda Estremera said Friday that the officer was taken to Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, where he was treated and released. Authorities said he was in stable condition after the encounter.
The case began with calls from two passing drivers who reported that livestock had escaped and were near the road, creating a risk that the animals could be struck by a vehicle. The prosecutor’s office is now handling the investigation.
Drivers reported loose livestock near the road before officer reached driveway
According to prosecutors, South Brunswick police received the first reports Thursday from two motorists who saw livestock near the roadway. The callers said the animals had gotten out and could be hit by traffic if they stayed in the area.
An officer went to the property to check on the situation and walked up a driveway in an effort to find the homeowner. That is when, authorities said, a dog on the property attacked him.
The confrontation turned violent quickly, and the officer fired his gun to stop the attack. Prosecutors have not said what kind of dog was involved or whether anyone else was injured.
Prosecutor says dog died and officer was treated at Princeton hospital
Estremera said the dog died from its injuries following the shooting. The officer was taken to Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, a hospital in Mercer County, for treatment before being released.
Officials did not immediately release the officer’s name. They also did not provide additional details about the homeowner, the livestock, or how the animals escaped.
The prosecutor’s office said the officer’s condition was stable after medical care. That update was the latest public information available Friday about the incident.
Middlesex County prosecutor’s office is leading the investigation
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office said it is serving as the independent investigating agency under Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive 2019-4. That directive sets out how certain officer-involved incidents are reviewed in New Jersey.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing. No findings have been announced about whether the shooting was justified under the circumstances.
The prosecutor’s office also released a contact number for anyone with information: Detective Stenly Vertus at 732-745-8083. Officials have not said when the inquiry may be completed.
No further injuries reported after brief confrontation on the property
Aside from the dog and the officer, no other injuries were reported in connection with the incident. The initial calls from drivers suggest the response began as a traffic-safety concern tied to escaped livestock.
The episode drew a police response to a rural or residential property where officers were trying to locate the homeowner. Prosecutors have not said whether the livestock were recovered or whether animal control officers were involved.
At this point, officials have confirmed only the sequence of events that led from a road hazard report to a dog attack and shooting. Additional details may emerge as investigators continue their review.
What prosecutors have and have not said so far
The public account released Friday is limited to the basic facts: a police response to loose livestock, a dog attack, a defensive gunshot, and medical treatment for the officer. The prosecutor’s office has not identified the dog’s owner or provided a fuller account of the property’s layout.
Officials also have not said whether the officer was alone, what type of firearm he used, or whether body camera footage exists. Those questions may be addressed later as the investigation develops.
For now, prosecutors are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Stenly Vertus. The inquiry will determine the next steps in a case that began with a roadside safety concern and ended with a wounded officer and a dead dog.
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