EVESHAM, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- Police arrested a husband who allegedly crashed his car into multiple police vehicles and his wife accused of threatening to kill officers in New Jersey on Sunday.
Evesham Police Chief Walt Miller said at a Sunday news conference that the chaos was part of "a plan to engage Evesham Police officers for the purpose of killing two police officers."
"The manifestation of the actions that we witnessed was a carrying out of that plan," Miller said.
At 1 a.m. on Sunday, patrol officers were at the scene of a motor vehicle collision when they observed a white Hyundai Genesis traveling west on Taunton Lake Road in Evesham at a high rate of speed.
According to officials, the estimated speed of the vehicle was 80mph in a 45mph zone and it appeared as if the vehicle increased speed as it passed officers investigating the collision.
The officers radioed a description of the vehicle to other officers in the area, and the vehicle was located on Willowbend Road at the intersection of Evans Road.
When an officer attempted to initiate a vehicle stop, the driver of the vehicle failed to pull over and ran the red light.
The officers recognized the vehicle and identified the driver as 23-year-old Marc Ferraiolo.
The pursuit was terminated due to the risk posed to the officers and the public. A judge was then contacted who found probable cause for the issuance of an eluding warrant for Ferraiolo.
Officers responded back to the area of Ferraiolo’s residence to serve the warrant and take Ferraiolo into custody. While officers were in the area of Ferraiolo’s residence, he was observed operating the same vehicle and pulling into his driveway.
Ferraiolo’s wife, 42-year-old Ruth Patton, exited the vehicle and officers pulled behind Ferraiolo as he remained in the vehicle.
Officers gave Ferraiolo commands to exit the vehicle which he ignored and instead drove forward, quickly put his vehicle in reverse and pulled out of the driveway at a high rate of speed, almost striking two officers.
While exiting the driveway Ferraiolo struck one police vehicle which contained police K9 Tango. Police believe the collision with the patrol car was purposeful.
Ferraiolo then drove directly towards two officers who had evaded him while he was backing out of his driveway. Authorities also believe it was a purposeful act to hit the officers with his vehicle.
Ferraiolo continued to drive across neighboring lawns and purposely rammed his vehicle into the K9 vehicle with maximum force three more times before attempting to flee again.
He also struck another responding vehicle while attempting to flee the location then continued driving east on Marlborough Avenue at a high rate of speed, police said.
Ferraiolo then struck another patrol vehicle and a parked vehicle on Marlborough Avenue by Azalea Terrace. This final impact disabled Ferraiolo’s vehicle.
Once Ferraiolo’s vehicle became disabled officers immediately approached, and found Ferraiolo still in his vehicle. Officers broke the window to Ferraiolo’s vehicle and removed him.
He was provided with medical attention at the scene and transported to the hospital for evaluation.
While officers were removing Ferraiolo from his vehicle, his wife interfered with officer’s actions and advised that she would kill officers.
She was subsequently arrested at the scene.
Several officers sustained non-life threatening injuries and were treated at the scene. The police K9 is undergoing veterinarian care due to being in the K9 vehicle during four significant impacts to the vehicle.
Ferraiolo was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, aggravated assault on police, eluding, criminal mischief and injuring a police canine.
Patton was charged with terroristic threats, and obstruction of justice.
Both suspects were taken to Burlington County Jail.
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