NEW YORK – A New Jersey couple, described by a resident as “neighbors from hell,” have been arrested after the husband allegedly rammed his car into several police vehicles while his wife threatened to kill officers in the Township of Evesham in an incident on Sunday morning.
At around 1 a.m. Sunday, officers were at the scene of a car crash in Evesham Township, New Jersey, when they saw a white Hyundai Genesis heading west on Taunton Lake Road, according to the police. Investigators said the vehicle was traveling at 80mph in a 45mph zone and appeared to pick up speed as it passed officers.
Officers described the car to other officers in the area. Later the car was seen in Willowbend Road at the intersection of Evans Road. When an officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver of the Genesis, identified as 24-year-old Marc Ferraiolo, allegedly failed to stop and ran a red light. Officers stopped tracking Ferraiolo because of the risk he posed to them and the public, investigators said.
A judge at Evesham City Court has been contacted and a warrant issued for his arrest for evading Ferraiolo, according to investigators. Officers then responded to Ferraiolo’s home in Evesham Township to serve the warrant and take him into custody.
Police said Ferraiolo then pulled over in his driveway and his wife, Ruth Patton, 43, exited the vehicle as officers pulled up behind him. Officers told Ferraiolo to get out of the car but he ignored their orders, investigators say.
Ferraiolo allegedly drove forward and quickly reversed his car, pulled out of the driveway and nearly hit two officers. He then hit a police vehicle with a K9 officer inside, police said.
Ferraiolo then intentionally drove directly at the two officers he nearly punched earlier, police said.
Ferraiolo continued through nearby gardens and deliberately crashed his car into the police cruiser with his K9 inside three more times before attempting to flee, investigators say.
As Ferraiolo drove away from the scene, he hit another police cruiser before continuing east. Marlborough Avenue at high speed, police said. He then rammed another police cruiser and a vehicle parked Marlborough Avenue down Azalea Terrace, disabling his own vehicle in the process, investigators say.
Officers then approached Ferraiolo’s Genesis, broke the car’s window and removed it, investigators said. Ferraiolo received medical treatment at the scene and was later taken to hospital for evaluation.
During the incident, Patton allegedly interfered with the officers’ actions and threatened to kill them. She was arrested at the scene.
Several officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident and were treated at the scene. The K9 policeman is also recovering at the vet.
“We are very lucky,” said Evesham Township Police Chief Walt Miller. “It could have been very, very bad. If those officers hadn’t stepped aside like they did, Mr. Ferraiolo’s intent would have been carried out.”
Ferraiolo is charged with attempted murder of a police officer, aggravated assault on police, escape, criminal mischief and assault on a police dog.
Patton is charged with terrorism threats and obstruction of justice.
Ferraiolo and Patton were incarcerated in Burlington County Jail.
“They’re neighbors from hell,” Kate Stiles, the couple’s neighbor, told NBC10. “It could be a TV show right now.
Residents told NBC10 the Sunday morning incident was the breaking point in a months-long saga that changed their lives.
“My daughter is scared to come home from college and stay here because of them,” Stiles said. “We’re happy it’s over.”