NJ Police Officer Indicted After Tasing ATV Rider

CHESILHURST, NJ — A police officer in South Jersey has been indicted for firing a taser at an ATV rider, causing the 23-year-old man to crash, according to the Attorney General's Office.

The man, who was not identified by authorities, suffered a fractured vertebra, a fractured collar bone, and a concussion in the crash, authorities previously said.

Police Officer Tyquan McIntosh, 28 of Minotola, has been indicted on charges of second-degree official misconduct, third-degree aggravated assault, third-degree tampering with records or public information and fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records.

He had previously been charged by complaint-summons with third-degree aggravated assault. Read more here: Cop In Camden County Charged After Tasing ATV Rider

The officer was on patrol around 11 p.m. on Aug. 12 when he came across the man riding the unregistered all-terrain vehicle (ATV) in the street, authorities said. He followed the man in his patrol car until the ATV stalled, according to authorities.

McIntosh got out of his car and approached the man, offering to help him get off the ATV, authorities said. However, the man managed to restart the ATV and began driving away, according to authorities.

At that point, McIntosh used his Axon X2 Taser on the man, causing him to flip and crash his ATV, authorities said.

The man was taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where he was treated for his injuries, authorities said.

Statewide policy states an officer can't use a Conducted Energy Device (CED), such as a taser, against anyone who is driving any type of vehicle, including an ATV, unless the use of deadly force is authorized, according to the Attorney General's Office.

In announcing the indictment, the Attorney General’s Office also stated that the officer lied about his use of the Taser in one or more official reports about the incident.

Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. The second-degree charge of official misconduct carries a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison without possibility of parole.

Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.