A fugitive on robbery charges is in jail asks cops to shoot him but they pepper spray him and then arrest him.
SOUTH BRUNSWICK -- A Monmouth Junction man who is wanted for two robberies was arrested Saturday night after he tried to get police to shoot him, but they refused and pepper-sprayed him instead.
Chief Raymond Hayducka said Officer Jarrid Harpster saw Dominick Zippo, 26, walking on Maple Street Saturday at 7:26 p.m. and knew he had several outstanding warrants against him, including two for robbery. He said when Zippo saw Harpster, he fled into a residence.
The chief said Sgt. Anthony Pisano, Officers Peter Santa and George Morgan arrived as backup for Harpster. The four men went into the residence, were able to contain a loose pitbull to a back room and then began their search.
Hayducka said Pisano opened a refrigerator and found Zippo, who is 5-foot 7-inches tall and 140 pounds, squeezed in to the appliance. He said Zippo was holding a 5-inch knife and yelling for officers to shoot him.
The chief said Santa and Morgan began to negotiate with Zippo, trying to get him to drop the knife, but he refused. He said as the officers spoke to him, they saw him lower his head and look away, and with that, they grabbed him and took him out of the refrigerator.
Hayducka said the officers struggled with Zippo and repeatedly ordered him to let go of the knife, but he refused. Harpster and Lt. Frank Lombardo, who had also arrived, then stepped in and used pepper spray on him. Zippo dropped the knife and was taken into custody, the chief said.
Hayducka said Zippo was charged with robbery, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice. The chief said Zippo also had warrants from the Middlesex County Sheriff, Edison, Woodbridge, Milltown and North Brunswick.
He said Zippo was taken to a medical facility for evaluation and then to the Middlesex County jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.
"These officers pursued a wanted fugitive into a residence," Hayducka said. "In the residence they were confronted by the fugitive armed with a knife. They worked in a space no bigger than 8-feet wide as they negotiated to resolve the situation. When speaking did not work, they took decisive action and neutralized the threat by overpowering the suspect. They showed courage and tenacity in successfully disarming and arresting the fugitive. Their actions exemplify the best of our agency."
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.