A New Jersey state trooper allegedly shot and killed his own dog before fleeing his home and assaulting an officer who found him in the township police parking lot, officials said.
New Jersey State Trooper Alexander Lark was arrested on Thursday and charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Residents in Lark’s condo building in Wayne, NJ reported hearing a “commotion” — including the sound of a possible gunshot — coming from one of the apartments at 12:55 a.m. Thursday morning, cops said.
While a group of officers responded to the report at the condo, additional officers leaving the township precinct headquarters found a man — later identified as Lark — “acting erratically” in the parking lot.
Wayne Detective Capt. Daniel Daly said that he was destroying a stop sign in the parking lot when officers tried to calm him down.
An affidavit of probable cause obtained by the Bergen Record said the state trooper appeared to be under the influence of an unidentified substance.
Lark allegedly shoved one of the officers trying to help him and was quickly subdued by the others and placed under arrest, Daly told the outlet.
He was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Meanwhile, the officers responding to the call at the condo found Lark’s dead dog in his apartment, according to the affidavit.
A Glock 43 service handgun was abandoned on the floor beside the dog.
Additional animal cruelty charges against Lark are pending.
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