State Trooper, K-9 Injured After Chase On NJ Turnpike: Police

CHERRY HILL, NJ — A man stabbed a K-9 and hit a New Jersey State Trooper with a flashlight after a chase on the New Jersey Turnpike ended with a crash in Cherry Hill, state police said Monday night.

Troopers from the Bellmawr station responded to a shirtless man standing outside a car and wielding a knife on I-295 near Exit 28 for Bellmawr at about 2:13 p.m., New Jersey State Police said Monday night.

The man got in his car and sped off when the officers arrived, police said. When police attempted to pull him over, he continued to flee north on I-295, prompting a chase, police said.

He got off I-295 at Exit 36A for Route 73 before getting on the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 4 in Cherry Hill, police said.

The chase continued onto the New Jersey Turnpike until the man's car became disabled at Milepost 37.1, police said. Police didn't say how the car became disabled, but CBS 3 reports there was a crash that involved at least two cars.

At that point, police ordered him to get out of the car, but he refused, police said. A State Police K-9 was brought in to help get into the car and apprehend the man, police said. The man then stabbed the K-9 with a knife, according to police.

Officers removed the injured K-9 from the car, and the man got out, police said. While police were attempting to subdue him, he hit one of the troopers with a flashlight, police said.

Police were able to subdue and arrest the man, who was not identified Monday night. Police handcuffed the man and then placed him on a stretcher, according to NBC 10.

The K-9 was taken to an area animal hospital and was last listed in stable condition, police said. The trooper sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to an area hospital.

The incident remains under investigation. Roadwork in the area is ongoing to clear the crash scene, according to 511nj.org. One of the right lanes is closed.