Indictment: New Jersey Police Trooper Stalked Woman After Traffic Stop
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A state police trooper accused of following a woman home after he had pulled her vehicle over on the New Jersey Turnpike last year has been indicted on stalking charges. Michael Patterson, 29, of Bayonne, also faces official misconduct and tampering with public records charges in the indictment handed up by a state grand jury.
It was made public Thursday.
Authorities said Patterson stopped the woman's vehicle on the Turnpike around 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 28, 2020, and eventually let her go with a warning. Officials have not said why that traffic stop occurred.
Patterson then stopped the woman again a few minutes later after she had exited the highway at Exit 11. Authorities said Patterson did that to make advances toward the woman, and he also disabled equipment in his cruiser to prevent his actions from being recorded on video.
Patterson then followed the woman home in his patrol car, putting her in fear, authorities said.
It wasn't known Friday if Patterson has retained an attorney.
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