Toms River Cop Accused In Attack On Ex, New Girlfriend Headed To Mental Health Facility

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River police officer charged with attacking her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend has been released from jail on the charges, but only to allow her to attend an in-patient mental health treatment program, a judge has ruled.

Rebecca A. Sayegh, 32, was expected to board a flight Friday evening for an out-of-state facility operated by Shatterproof, a mental health treatment program that specializes in treating law enforcement officers, said Terrance Turnbach, her attorney.

Superior Court Judge Pamela Snyder agreed to allow Sayegh to be released to attend the program, which is 30 to 90 days of in-patient treatment.

Sayegh has been held in the Ocean County Jail since Monday on charges of home invasion burglary, two counts of assault, two counts of criminal mischief, terroristic threats and resisting arrest in the incident at the home she previously shared with her ex-boyfriend in Berkeley Township, authorities have said.

Berkeley Township police initially released her, but she was re-arrested Monday because home invasion burglary is a first-degree charge that comes with a presumption of a warrant, authorities said during the hearing.

Sayegh had been in a relationship with her ex-boyfriend for five years and had lived with him, Turnbach said, and still has belongings at the home, including her dog, named Rookie, and clothing in a spare bedroom, he said.

It was not clear exactly when the relationship ended, but Sayegh told Snyder she has been living with her parents.

Assistant Prosecutor Isabella Young said that according to the probable cause affidavit, Sayegh went to the home about 11 p.m. on April 24 and smashed the glass front door with a baton, then reached in and let herself into the house.

Her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend had been watching TV in the living room and met Sayegh in the foyer, Young said. She was screaming profanities and the fight turned physical, at one point resulting in Sayegh's nail poking the other woman in the eye, she said.

While the couple tried to keep the dogs out of the broken glass in the foyer, Sayegh began smashing other items and threw a houseplant, Young said. She then went upstairs to get more items, and as Sayegh went upstairs, the couple ran outside and called Berkeley police, she said.

When police arrived, Sayegh was coming out of the garage of the house, and when she was told she was being arrested "became irate," Young said, screaming more profanities and struggling with officers as they tried to arrest her.

Sayegh at one point screamed she would "burn the ---- house down next, you piece of ---," Young said, reading from the affidavit.

The damage to the house was estimated at $2,000 and damage to one car that was scratched with an unknown object was estimated at $500, Young said, arguing for Sayegh to be detained until trial.

Her ex-boyfriend has since sought and received a temporary restraining order, Young said.

Turnbach said the placement at Shatterproof was arranged by the Toms River PBA and has a bed for her immediately. Sayegh, who has been a police officer in Toms River since 2016, was about to leave for the program on Monday when she was rearrested, Turnbach said.

In agreeing to allow Sayegh to be released to go to the inpatient program, Snyder also barred her from any contact with the victims.

She is scheduled for another hearing before Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan on June 9, Snyder said.

Previous reporting:

• Off-Duty Toms River Police Officer Smashed Glass Door, Assaulted Pair In Home: Prosecutor
• Officer Charged In Home Invasion Threatened To Burn Down Ex-Boyfriend's Home: Report
• Officer Accused In Home Invasion Alleged Discrimination By Toms River Police Department