Full Notification

On Saturday, April 24^th, 2021 at 10:27 AM, members of the Middle Township Patrol Division responded to the Village Shoppes, in the Rio Grande section, for a report of a subject who had been struck with a wooden two by four which had a nail protruding from the end.  The victim, Calvin Billingsly, age 49 year of Rio Grande, New Jersey, refused further treatment at the scene despite suffering a large laceration to the head.   During the course of the investigation by the Middle Township Major Crimes Unit, it was learned that the accused, Michael Rugg, age 19, of Rio Grande, New Jersey, engaged in a verbal argument with Billingsly and then utilized the aforementioned two by four pieces of wood to strike the victim.  The victim fell to the ground and a bystander intervened to cease the assault from escalating further.  Upon police arrival, Rugg was located leaving the area, resisted arrest and was ultimately transported to police headquarters. Rugg was charged with multiple offenses to include: Attempted Murder-1^st degree, Aggravated Assault- 2^nd Degree, two (2) counts of Aggravated Assault-3^rd Degree, Aggravated Assault- 4^th Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon- 3^rd Degree, Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes- 3^rd Degree, Terroristic Threats 3^rd Degree and Resisting Arrest- Disorderly Person Offense.  Members of the Middle Township Major Crimes Unit assisted with the investigation.  Rugg was lodged at the Cape May County Correctional Facility.
*Any charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless they are proven guilty.