Irvington Police Captain Accused Of Trying To Run Down Newark Councilman
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A police captain has been charged with trying to run down a councilman from a nearby city with her car, authorities said Tuesday.
Monique Smith, an Irvington police captain, faces aggravated assault, stalking, criminal mischief, harassment and two weapons charges stemming from her Monday night encounter with Newark Councilman John James.
Police Captain Charged With Trying To Run Down Newark Councilman
According to Newark police spokesman Sgt. Ronald Glover, James was near his home at about 11 p.m. when Smith approached and began yelling at him. When James climbed into his vehicle and drove off, Smith followed, and authorities said she struck James' car several times before James reached the home of his father, former Mayor Sharpe James.
Newark police said it was James' father who intervened, 1010 WINS' Kevin Rincon reported.
Smith, 43, was arrested later at a different location.
It wasn't immediately clear what may have sparked the incident. A woman answering the phone at James' council office Tuesday said James wasn't commenting on it.
A spokeswoman for the Essex County prosecutor's office said its domestic violence unit and professional standards bureau were monitoring the case and would handle the prosecution.
The 46-year-old James is a military veteran who served on active duty during Operation Desert Storm in the 1990s and in Afghanistan in 2007-08. He was elected to the Newark City Council in November 2013.
His father served as mayor from 1986 to 2006 but was convicted of fraud and conspiracy in 2008 and sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for steering city-owned land to a one-time mistress.
Irvington Police Chief Michael Chase said Smith, who was newly promoted, has been suspended without pay.
Chase said he is beyond surprised by the allegations.
"Concerned, hurt, worried for her and concerned for anybody that was involved in it," Chase said, adding "at this point we don't want to take any position as to guilt, innocence or the implication of allegations."
Chase also said the incident should not be a reflection of the department.
"I would not go to a bakery, get a bad bun and say every baker is bad, so I wouldn't want you to say every cop is bad," Chase said.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories:
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
