By Jonathan Burgos –
A state trooper from New Jersey was arrested in Wayne on Thursday after allegedly shooting his dog at his place of residence, vandalizing a stop sign and assaulting an officer outside township police headquarters, said Wayne Detective Capt. Daniel Daly.
Approximately around 12:55 am residence who lived in the same area called police after they heard a ” commotion” in one of the condos, possibly including a gunshot. Authorities from the Wayne Police Department responded to the complex.
Officers were leaving township police headquarters when they found a man in the front parking lot “acting erratically.” Daly said the man, who was later identified as New Jersey State Trooper Alexander Lark, was destroying a stop sign in the parking lot.
Officers engaged Lark and tried to calm him down. Lark then shoved one of them and was subsequently taken to the ground, restrained and placed under arrest. He was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. An affidavit said police found his dog, who was shot and killed with his service weapon, the gun was left on the floor near the deceased dog.
Alexander Lark was criminally charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was also charged with an ordinance violation discharging his weapon. He is also pending charges on animal cruelty.