Man Who Pointed Gun At Cop's Head In Montco Gets Prison Time: Reports

WHITEMARSH TOWNSHIP, PA — A South Jersey man who was convicted of attempted homicide this summer for pointing a stolen gun at the head of a police officer in this eastern Montgomery County community will be heading to state prison in Pennsylvania following his sentencing in criminal court in Norristown recently, according to news reports.

Reynaldo Figueroa-Ardon, 21, of Vineland, N.J., received decades behind bars after sentencing by Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas M. DelRicci, according to a report in the Mercury newspaper.

The story says that the defendant got 27 to 54 years in a state correctional incident in connection with the March 10, 2021, incident in Whitemarsh Township.

According to Montgomery County prosecutors, a Whitemarsh Township police officer was called out to Mulberry Lane in the Lafayette Hill section of the community for a report of a suspicious person walking around at around 8 in the morning and checking car door handles to see if vehicles were unlocked.

When the officer caught up to Figueroa-Ardon, he grabbed his arm and tried to ask him what he was doing in the area, but at this point Figueroa-Ardon pulled out a firearm, spun around and pointed it at the officer's head, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

Figueroa-Ardon pulled the trigger three times, but the gun did not fire, the DA's Office stated.

A struggle ensued and the officer was able to place the man under arrest when additional officers arrived to offer backup assistance.

County detectives ultimately determined the gun had been stolen overnight from a vehicle parked in nearby Worcester Township, and the owner had reported the gun as stolen, according to prosecutors.

"For a police officer, even a routine call can turn deadly in moments," Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a previous statement. "All of us in law enforcement are feeling very blessed right now that the defendant wasn't able to rack a bullet into the chamber of the stolen gun before he pulled the trigger. Thankfully, the police officer went home to his family after this very dangerous incident."

The gun reportedly had bullets in the magazine but not one in the chamber, which is why no shots were fired at the time Figueroa-Ardon pulled the trigger.

Patch previously reported that Figueroa-Ardon was convicted during a non-jury trial this summer of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, receiving stolen property, attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, carrying firearms without a license, possession of a weapon and recklessly endangering another person.

Related: Attempted Murder Conviction For NJ Man Who Tried To Shoot Montco Cop

The Mercury reported that Figueroa-Ardon did not apologize for his actions or address the judge at the time of his recent sentencing.

The story said that prosecutors wanted a stiffer sentence for Figueroa-Ardon, with Assistant District Attorney Allison Ruth reportedly stating in court that the man, "tried to blow a cop's head off in the middle of rush hour traffic in a residential area, point blank range."

The defense, in asking for a lesser sentence, reportedly argued that Figueroa-Ardon's actions were likely influenced by his young age, drug use and mental health issues.

The Whitemarsh Township police officer involved in the incident was identified as Corporal Matthew Stadulis, a married father of two.

Figueroa-Ardon reportedly was aware that the stolen gun had ammunition in the magazine and had believed one bullet was also in the chamber, even though it wasn't.'