A 20-year-old Asbury Park man was indicted on six counts, including attempted murder, after he allegedly exchanged gunfire with a police officer in November. Watch video
FREEHOLD - A Monmouth County grand jury has indicted a 20-year-old Asbury Park man on six counts, including attempted murder, after he allegedly exchanged gunfire with a police officer in November.
At approximately 7:15 p.m. on Nov. 4, an Asbury Park police officer attempted to conduct a field stop of Dante Allen, 20, of Asbury Park, at the intersection of Boston Way and Atkins Avenue.
However, Allen pulled the hood of his hoodie over his head and covered his face as he walked away from the officer, while clutching something on his left side, under his sweatshirt, authorities said.
When Allen fled westbound on Springwood Avenue, the officer chased him and pulled out his service weapon, authorities said. Allen then ran into a nearby open field, turned and fired at the officer, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said.
The officer immediately returned fire, striking Allen in the leg, officials said.
Allen, who was found with a 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun, was treated and released at a local hospital, then taken into custody, authorities said.
The exchange of gunfire resulted in an 8-year-old girl being grazed by a bullet while she was watching television inside of her Borden Avenue home. She was treated for a superficial wound to her forehead and released the same night.
Ballistics tests indicated the bullet likely came from the officer's gun, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni announced last month.
"The ballistics examination by the New Jersey State Police Forensic Investigations Bureau Ballistics Unit was inconclusive in determining which projectile struck the victim, but the opinion of the forensics lab and the investigatory opinion of this Office have determined the projectile came from the weapon of the police officer," Gramiccioni said in a Jan. 22 statement.
Allen was charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, fourth-degree possession of a prohibited weapon, third -degree receiving stolen property, and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance (Cocaine).
He is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township in default of $1,337,500 bail, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Anthony Mellaci, Jr.
If convicted of Attempted Murder, Allen faces up to 20 years in state prison, subject to the provisions of the "No Early Release Act", which would require him to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor and Senior Litigation Counsel Thomas Huth.
Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.