Two Township Cops Injured in Arrest Fight

The chase for an alleged Camden van thief injured two Gloucester Township Police officers in the early hours of Saturday morning. One officer may have suffered a broken knee while attempting to arrest the suspect.

Hector Aviles, 25, of the 2000 Block of Cooper Street, faces multiple charges in the incident that sent both him and the two officers to the hospital.

Township police responded to Black Horse Pike and Old Black Horse Pike at 3:30 a.m. Sept. 24 to assist Haddon Heights officers with capturing Aviles, who reportedly was driving a van stolen from Camden.

Aviles would not stop for police, and eventually crashed into a detached garage at a home on Old Black Horse Pike before fleeing on foot.

Gloucester Township Police and other agencies set up a search area. There they found Aviles hiding in the bushes, police said.

The suspect engaged police in a struggle—described in reports as “intense”—when they attempted to put him under arrest. During the scuffle, two unidentified officers sustained injuries that required emergency care. Although both officers have been released as of Saturday afternoon, police said one of the officers may have a broken knee bone.

Aviles also was sent to the hospital with what police describe as minor injuries. He was charged in Gloucester Township with two counts of aggravated assault on police, third degree; one count of resisting arrest, third degree; and possession of burglary tools, which is a disorderly persons offense.

Additional charges relating to the van theft and chase are pending from Camden and Haddon Heights, according to reports.

After his release from the hospital, Aviles was remanded to Camden County Jail on $15,000 bail.