Robbinsville Police Officer Charged With Assaulting Disabled Mother And Son
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (CBS) – A Robbinsville police officer has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault in relation to an incident that occurred on Monday.
Sergeant Mark Lee, an 18-year veteran of the Robbinsville Police Department, is charged with official misconduct, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of endangering the welfare of a child, five counts of aggravated assault upon a police officer, and one count each of burglary, harassment and criminal mischief.
On Monday around 9:30 p.m., Robbinsville police responded to a residence at Project Freedom on Hutchinson Road, where a female was allegedly being physically assaulted.
Witnesses say that while inside the residence occupied by a disabled couple and their 4-year-old son, Officer Lee followed the 45-year-old woman and child into the bathroom, a struggle ensued and Lee physically assaulted both individuals. The mother and child made their way into the master bedroom with a caretaker and called the police. Lee then broke into the bedroom, knocked the mother from her wheelchair and assaulted her again. The father was in the living room and confined to his wheelchair as the incident unfolded.
When police arrived at the home, Lee was sitting on a couch inside. He was taken into police custody, and during transport, he kicked the side rear window of the police car and jumped out. Officers then chased Lee on foot and subdued him after a struggle.
Lee was taken to the Crisis Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he remains.
Lee has been suspended without pay from the police department. He was on-duty at the time of the incident.
Mercer County Superior Court Judge Thomas Sumners set bail for Lee at $250,000 cash or bond and ordered a psychiatric evaluation. Lee is also to have no contact with the victims should he post bail.
According to its website, Project Freedom is a non-profit organization that develops and operates barrier-free housing to enable individuals with disabilities to live independently.
