Winslow Man Charged in Attempt to Take Cop's Gun

A Winslow Township man has been charged with attempting to disarm a police officer, among many offenses, following a traffic stop on College Drive Thursday night that turned violent, according to police.

Police allege Max A. Martin, 19, of Price Lane, Winslow, had two marijuana cigarettes inside his car when he entered into a physical altercation with two officers who were attempting to prevent him from leaving the scene of the traffic stop.

Gloucester Township Police Ptl. Edward O'Lano and Tim Kohlmyer observed the driver of a 1990 Honda Accord make what Lt. Jason Gittens described in a press release as a "reckless turn" into the Blackwood Clementon Road 7-Eleven convenience store at approximately 9:13 p.m., nearly causing a crash.

The car then crossed Blackwood Clementon Road and entered the ShopRite parking lot before finally coming to a stop on College Drive.

Martin reportedly refused to provide O'Lano and Kohlmyer with his driver's license and vehicle registration and insurance cards, and was asked to step out of the car. Martin complied, but allegedly ignored the officers' directions and attempted to get back into the car.

Believing Martin was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the officers grabbed Martin to prevent him from leaving and a "violent struggle" ensued, Gittens said.

Martin allegedly attempted to remove a gun from one of the two officers' holster.

Martin was pepper-sprayed when back-up units arrived on scene to assist O'Lano and Kohlmyer, but this had little effect on the Winslow man, according to police.

K-9 Officer Chris Gerace released K-9 Arrow. The dog was able to get Martin to submit to arrest.

O'Lano sustained a minor injury in the altercation, according to police. He was treated at Virtua Hospital, in Voorhees.

Martin was taken by ambulance to Kennedy University Hospital-Stratford. He was lodged in Camden County Jail on $40,000 bail after he was medically cleared for incarceration by hospital staff.

Martin is charged with two counts of aggravated assault on police and single counts of disarming a law-enforcement officer, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, use and being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, and criminal mischief. He was also issued several traffic summonses.