Full Notification

WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT

20 Municipal Drive * P.O. Box 38

West Windsor, New Jersey 08550

ROBERT GAROFALO PhD(c), Chief of Police

(609) 799-1222

Records Fax (609) 799-6338 * Fax (609) 897-9010

DB Fax (609) 799-6515 * Dispatch Fax (609) 799-3516

NEWS INFORMATION

INCIDENT: 2023-14230 Disarming a Law Enforcement Officer Attenpt, Aggravated Assault (2 Counts), Resisting Arrest, Criminal Mischief (2 Counts), and Shoplifting

DATE & TIME OCCURRED:   May 11, 2023 at 4:44 pm (Incident 2023-14219)

LOCATION OCCURRED:  TJ Maxx, 210 Nassau Park Boulevard (Nassau Park Pavilion)

WHO:  Accused:   Nicholas Giovannozzi 
                              Resident of Pennsburg, PA 18073

OFFICERS:  1)  Ptl. M. Fattibene #114 
                     2)  Ptl. K. LaForge #104
       
OTHERS INVOLVED: 1)   WWPD Communications Center,
                                           Patrol Division, 
                                           Administration & Detective Bureau
                                    2)  West Windsor Div. of Fire & Emergency Services
                                   

DETAILS:  On May 11, 2023 at 4:44 pm, the WWPD Communications Center dispatched Patrol to TJ Maxx at the Nassau Park Pavilion on a report of a shoplifting in progress (Incident 2023-14219).   Communications related that TJ Maxx Loss Prevention investigators were monitoring a white male wearing an orange shirt and camo pants concealing large amounts of merchandise.  The male appeared to be waiting for a ride.  Ptl. Fattibene was currently working an Extra Duty security detail in full police uniform at Wegmans Food Market located nearby at 240 Nassau Park Boulevard  Ptl. Fattibene proceeded on foot towards TJ Maxx where he observed the male walking through the parking lot and pushing a shopping cart.  The male matched the description provided by Communications.  Ptl. Fattibene approached the subject, later identified as Nicholas Giovannozzi, who turned towards Ptl. Fattibene and began to accelerate his pace.  As Ptl. Fattibene closed the distance, Giovannozzi pushed the shopping cart away and began to flee on foot.  Ptl. Fattibene gave verbal commands to stop running, but Giovannozzi continued to flee.  Ptl. Fattibene closed the distance and was able to position himself to hold the male in investigative detention.  
              During the investigative detention, Ptl. Fattibene asked Giovannozzi to place his hands behind his back.  Giovannozzi tensed up and stated, "I'm not going back to jail...you're going to have to kill me.".  Ptl. Fattibene used de-escalation techniques to no avail and Giovannozzi went from being a passive resistor to an actiive resistor by breaking Ptl. Fattibene's grasp from one hand while attempting to handcuff him.  Ptl. Fattibene was placed in fear of imminent attack from Giovannozzi, and used defensive tactics to take Giovannozzi to the ground.  Ptl. Fattibene continued to use verbal commands in an attempt to gain control of Giovannozzi's arms in handcuffs to no avail.  Giovannozzi grabbed for without success after numerous attempts to take Ptl. Fattibene's service weapon and became an active assailant threatening to use immediate force against Ptl. Fattibene with his own weapon.  Ptl. Fattibene continued to use verbal commands to Giovannozzi without success.  With the assistance of a TJ Maxx Investigator retrieving his disloged handcuffs, Ptl. Fattibene was able to get one hand cuffed after using further defensive tactics.  Giovannozzi continued to resist Ptl. Fattibene handcuffing his other hand by keeping it tensed beneath his body.  
                Ptl. LaForge arrived as a backup officer to assist with the non compliant Giovannozzi who was still actively resisting.  Ultimately, Ptl. Fattibene and Ptl. LaForge gained the upper hand and handcuffed Giovannozzi.  In Giovannozzi's possession was a glass vial containing suspected CDS and multiple burglar tools including a razor blade & a a pair of pliers.  Ptl. Fattibene and Ptl. LaForge both sustained minor injuries that were treated at the scene by the West Windsor Township Division of Fire & Emergency Services.  In addition, portions of Ptl. Fattibene's uniform were damaged.  Giovannozzi was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for evaluation.  Giovannozzi was later released from Capital Health Regional Medical Center and transported to the WWPD Headquarters for Processing.  After Processing, Giovannozzi was turned over to the custody of the Mercer County Corrections.  Ultimately, Giovannozzi was charged with the following offenses pending a future Mercer County Superior Court Date:

1)  Disarming a Law Enforcement Officer
2)  Aggravated Assault (2 Counts)
3)  Resisting Arrest 
4)  Criminal Mischief (2 Counts)  
5)  Shoplifting Incident (2023-14219)
6)  Possession of Burglar Tools (Incident 2023-14219)

**NOTE:  Chief Garofalo wanted to express his praise of Ptl. Fattibene, Ptl. LaForge, and the assistance of the TJ Maxx Investigators.  This incident only illustrates the danger that all of of our Officers put themselves potentially into on any given shift.  We are very pleased to include that Ptl. Fattibene and Ptl. LaForge will resume their normal scheduled Patrol duties after this incident.       

OFFICER  PREPARING RELEASE: Det. Lt. Lee #59

DATE OF RELEASE: 5/12/2023

 
*Please note that charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.