What began as a low-key encounter with two pedestrians escalated into a dangerous confrontation with police Saturday night near Frenchtown. When it was over, one man was arrested with multiple offenses.
Lavelle Mark Campbell II was charged — among other things — with assault, reckless endangerment, and interfering with an officer while they were discharging their duty. He was also charged with possession of an unlicensed Glock 9 mm handgun. The defendant was advised of his rights at a hearing held Monday before Superior Court Magistrate Simone Van Holten-Turnbull.
According to papers filed at the time of Campbell’s arrest, the incident began as officers patrolled early Sunday morning near the Jungle Night Club. Officers spotted two men in the area; one was rolling a marijuana cigarette, and the other was drinking alcohol from an open container.
“I advised the males to stop and leave the area,” the arresting officer said. But as one of the pair walked away, the officer spotted a bulge at the hip.
Suspecting it was a firearm, the officer followed Campbell and asked if he had a weapon; he did not respond but quickly walked to a vehicle, opened the door and got in.
The pursuit turned into a confrontation, with the officer standing next to the suspect inside the open car door and next to the driver’s seat.
“Mr. Campbell ignored me and began shuffling with his keys trying to put same in the ignition. I stepped onto the step ladder of the Wrangler to signal (waving my hands frantically) to my fellow squad members that I needed help with Mr. Campbell. While doing so, I felt the vehicle quickly reverse and accelerated at a high rate of speed heading towards McDonald’s as I clenched onto the door for fear of falling injuring myself,” said Officer Aisha Somersall.
Backup officers converged on the scene; one shouted an order for Campbell to stop the car. Instead, the suspect struck one of the officers with the bumper.
Then Campbell, Somersall and the car headed off towards Veterans Drive. Eventually, the officer persuaded the driver to stop and hand over the Glock. He was then taken into custody and held on $100,000 bail.
