Advisory
(609) 799-1222
Records Fax (609) 799-6338 * Fax (609) 897-9010
DB Fax (609) 799-6515 * Dispatch Fax (609) 799-3516
PRESS INFORMATION
INCIDENT: 2020-15054 Terroristic Threats, Aggravated Assault, Eluding, Obstruction, Hindering Apprehension
DATE & TIME OCCURRED: 7/7/2020 at 6:41 pm
LOCATION OCCURRED: Target, 500 Nassau Park Boulevard
ACCUSED: 1) Priscilla D. Valentine **Charges #1, 2 (Accomplice Liability), 4, and 5
Resident of Newark, NJ 07103
2) Tashaye R. Williamson **Charges #3, 4, and 5
Resident of Newark, NJ 07103
3) Diane N. Wilson **Charges #1, 2, 4, and 5
Resident of Newark, NJ 07103
OTHERS INVOLVED: 1) WWPD Patrol Units & Detective Bureau
2) Lawrence Township PD Patrol Units
DETAILS: On Wednesday July 8, 2020 at 6:41 pm, Sgt. Brodowski #479 was conducting a business check of Nassau Park (Pavilion) and was driving in front of the Target store when Dispatch advised via radio that a Shoplifting was actively occurring inside of the Target. Dispatch further advised that (2) Actors (later identified as Priscilla D. Valentine and Diane N. Wilson), were known to Loss Prevention Officers from a previous incident and were now in the process of taking vacuum cleaners. In addition, Dispatch related a third actor was sitting in the parking lot inside of a gray Dodge Charger. Sgt. Brodowski began checking the parking lot for the Dodge Charger.
Dispatch informed Sgt. Brodowski that the (2) actors abandoned their merchandise inside of the store and began walking towards the exit. As Sgt. Brodowski was driving back towards the store, a Loss Prevention Officer gestured towards a dark colored Dodge Charger backed into a Handicapped Parking space (no placard displayed in violation of 39:4-138o). Sgt. Brodowski parked his marked patrol car with overhead lights illuminated and was partially in front of the Dodge. As Sgt. Brodowski exited his patrol car, the Loss Prevention Officer indicated that the (2) actors exiting the store were indeed the ones he had called about. The (2) actors, Valentine and Wilson, ignored Sgt. Brodowski’s commands to come toward him and continued toward the Charger. Valentine was coughing before she entered the front passenger’s seat of the Charger and closed the door while stating, “I got the Corona”. Wilson proceeded toward the rear seat and began to enter the Charger as Sgt. Brodowski ordered her not to do so. Sgt. Brodowski reached into the rear seat of the Charger and attempted to take hold of Wilson’s arm. Valentine encouraged Wilson to cough. Wilson pulled down her facial mask and intentionally coughed in an exaggerated manner on Sgt. Brodowski. The Driver, later identified as Tashaye R. Williamson, fled the parking space a high rate of speed in the direction of Nassau Park Boulevard and Sgt. Brodowski immediately lost sight of the fleeing vehicle.
Sgt. Brodowski relayed pertinent information (including being coughed upon and the indication of possible COVID-19) to other patrol units and, without initiating a police pursuit, continued to check the vicinity of the complex for the Dodge. As Sgt. Brodowski drove South on US Route 1 into Lawrence Township, he came across a Motor Vehicle Crash that involved the Dodge that had just fled the Target parking lot. The Dodge was disabled from the severe damage striking the concrete median (Lawrence Township Incident #20-16519) with all (3) actors exiting the vehicle on foot towards Mercer Mall. Other Patrol Units flooded the area in search of the (3) subjects. Ptl. LaForge #104 apprehended Wilson behind the Mattress Factory after Wilson initially attempted to run from Ptl. LaForge but ultimately stopped as Valentine continued to walk away despite being ordered to stop. Ptl. Caulfield #107 and Ptl. Crawford #108 apprehended a short distance away at the southeast corner of David’s Bridal store. Afterward, Ptl. LaForge located Williamson inside of the bathroom of the David’s Bridal Store. Further investigation revealed that Williamson had been the Driver of the Charger, and Sgt. Brodowski placed Williamson under arrest.
Due to the crash, Valentine and Wilson were transported to University of Penn Princeton Medical Center by Lawrence Township Emergency Services for clearance prior to being taken to the WWPD Headquarters for Processing. Williamson was transported directly to the WWPD. The above listed charges were signed against the (3) actors prior to being transported to the Mercer County Corrections pending a future date at the Mercer County Superior Court. It should be noted that Ptl. LaForge is the Investigating Officer for a previous Shoplifting Incident #2020-15057 involving Valentine and Wilson. In addition, Lawrence Township PD is investigating Incident #20-16522 Receiving Stolen Property.
OFFICER PREPARING RELEASE: Lt. Lee #359
DATE OF RELEASE: 7/9/2020
**************
**Please note that charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
**WWPD Press Release: Inc 2020-15054 on 7/8/2020 Terroristic Threats, Aggravated Assault on an Officer, etc.-Lt. Lee
WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT
20 Municipal Drive * P.O. Box 38
West Windsor, New Jersey 08550
20 Municipal Drive * P.O. Box 38
West Windsor, New Jersey 08550
ROBERT GAROFALO PhD(c), Chief of Police
(609) 799-1222
Records Fax (609) 799-6338 * Fax (609) 897-9010
DB Fax (609) 799-6515 * Dispatch Fax (609) 799-3516
PRESS INFORMATION
INCIDENT: 2020-15054 Terroristic Threats, Aggravated Assault, Eluding, Obstruction, Hindering Apprehension
DATE & TIME OCCURRED: 7/7/2020 at 6:41 pm
LOCATION OCCURRED: Target, 500 Nassau Park Boulevard
ACCUSED: 1) Priscilla D. Valentine **Charges #1, 2 (Accomplice Liability), 4, and 5
Resident of Newark, NJ 07103
2) Tashaye R. Williamson **Charges #3, 4, and 5
Resident of Newark, NJ 07103
3) Diane N. Wilson **Charges #1, 2, 4, and 5
Resident of Newark, NJ 07103
OTHERS INVOLVED: 1) WWPD Patrol Units & Detective Bureau
2) Lawrence Township PD Patrol Units
DETAILS: On Wednesday July 8, 2020 at 6:41 pm, Sgt. Brodowski #479 was conducting a business check of Nassau Park (Pavilion) and was driving in front of the Target store when Dispatch advised via radio that a Shoplifting was actively occurring inside of the Target. Dispatch further advised that (2) Actors (later identified as Priscilla D. Valentine and Diane N. Wilson), were known to Loss Prevention Officers from a previous incident and were now in the process of taking vacuum cleaners. In addition, Dispatch related a third actor was sitting in the parking lot inside of a gray Dodge Charger. Sgt. Brodowski began checking the parking lot for the Dodge Charger.
Dispatch informed Sgt. Brodowski that the (2) actors abandoned their merchandise inside of the store and began walking towards the exit. As Sgt. Brodowski was driving back towards the store, a Loss Prevention Officer gestured towards a dark colored Dodge Charger backed into a Handicapped Parking space (no placard displayed in violation of 39:4-138o). Sgt. Brodowski parked his marked patrol car with overhead lights illuminated and was partially in front of the Dodge. As Sgt. Brodowski exited his patrol car, the Loss Prevention Officer indicated that the (2) actors exiting the store were indeed the ones he had called about. The (2) actors, Valentine and Wilson, ignored Sgt. Brodowski’s commands to come toward him and continued toward the Charger. Valentine was coughing before she entered the front passenger’s seat of the Charger and closed the door while stating, “I got the Corona”. Wilson proceeded toward the rear seat and began to enter the Charger as Sgt. Brodowski ordered her not to do so. Sgt. Brodowski reached into the rear seat of the Charger and attempted to take hold of Wilson’s arm. Valentine encouraged Wilson to cough. Wilson pulled down her facial mask and intentionally coughed in an exaggerated manner on Sgt. Brodowski. The Driver, later identified as Tashaye R. Williamson, fled the parking space a high rate of speed in the direction of Nassau Park Boulevard and Sgt. Brodowski immediately lost sight of the fleeing vehicle.
Sgt. Brodowski relayed pertinent information (including being coughed upon and the indication of possible COVID-19) to other patrol units and, without initiating a police pursuit, continued to check the vicinity of the complex for the Dodge. As Sgt. Brodowski drove South on US Route 1 into Lawrence Township, he came across a Motor Vehicle Crash that involved the Dodge that had just fled the Target parking lot. The Dodge was disabled from the severe damage striking the concrete median (Lawrence Township Incident #20-16519) with all (3) actors exiting the vehicle on foot towards Mercer Mall. Other Patrol Units flooded the area in search of the (3) subjects. Ptl. LaForge #104 apprehended Wilson behind the Mattress Factory after Wilson initially attempted to run from Ptl. LaForge but ultimately stopped as Valentine continued to walk away despite being ordered to stop. Ptl. Caulfield #107 and Ptl. Crawford #108 apprehended a short distance away at the southeast corner of David’s Bridal store. Afterward, Ptl. LaForge located Williamson inside of the bathroom of the David’s Bridal Store. Further investigation revealed that Williamson had been the Driver of the Charger, and Sgt. Brodowski placed Williamson under arrest.
Due to the crash, Valentine and Wilson were transported to University of Penn Princeton Medical Center by Lawrence Township Emergency Services for clearance prior to being taken to the WWPD Headquarters for Processing. Williamson was transported directly to the WWPD. The above listed charges were signed against the (3) actors prior to being transported to the Mercer County Corrections pending a future date at the Mercer County Superior Court. It should be noted that Ptl. LaForge is the Investigating Officer for a previous Shoplifting Incident #2020-15057 involving Valentine and Wilson. In addition, Lawrence Township PD is investigating Incident #20-16522 Receiving Stolen Property.
OFFICER PREPARING RELEASE: Lt. Lee #359
DATE OF RELEASE: 7/9/2020
**************
**Please note that charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Address/Location
West Windsor Police Department, NJ
271 Clarksville Rd
West Windsor Township, NJ 08550
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 609-799-1222
TEXT-A-TIP - Text TIP WWPD followed by your message, to 888777