State Trooper Kills Dog, Vandalizes Station, Assaults Cop: Officials

WAYNE, NJ — A New Jersey state trooper is accused of killing his dog, then vandalizing a stop sign outside a local police station and assaulting an officer who was trying to calm him down, officials said.

Wayne Township Police arrested Trooper Alexander Lark early on Thursday morning, according to Detective Captain Dan Daly.

Residents of a condominium complex had called police just before 1 a.m. on March 27 after they heard a "commotion" and possible gunshot from one of the condos, Daly said. Several officers went to the condo to investigate.

As other officers were leaving police headquarters, they encountered Lark "acting erratically" in the front parking lot and destroying a stop sign, officials said.

Police said that Lark shoved one of the officers who tried to de-escalate the situation. Lark then tried to flee and several officers tackled him, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed with his arrest. He also tried to resist being handcuffed, officials said.

Lark appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis and/or was under the influence of an unknown substance, police wrote in the affidavit. Officers took him to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

Police determined that Lark was a resident at the complex, and found the dog shot dead inside his condo, Daly said. His Glock service handgun was on the floor nearby, according to court records.

Lark faces charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Animal cruelty charges are pending and he was also charged with a municipal violation for discharging a firearm, Daly said.

Wayne Police notified the State Police Internal Affairs Division of his arrest.

Lark began working for New Jersey State Police in 2017, public records show. He is currently suspended without pay, a police spokesperson told Patch.