Warrant Issued; Suspect Identified in Officer-Involved Shooting in Mullica Township

Alexander Nayaran

MAYS LANDING – An Egg Harbor City man has been charged with aggravated assault while eluding a law enforcement officer in connection with an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Mullica Township yesterday, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced today.

On Nov. 22, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office charged Alexander Nayaran, 36, with second-degree aggravated assault while eluding a law enforcement officer and second-degree eluding police. A warrant has been issued for Nayaran’s arrest. Nayaran is a fugitive at this time. Bail has been set at $50,000 full cash.

On Nov. 21, at approximately 4:40 p.m., a Mullica Township Police Officer conducted a motor vehicle stop of Nayaran’s vehicle near the intersection of Moss Mill Road and Darmstadt Avenue. During the stop, a struggle ensued between Nayaran and the officer, in which Nayaran caused bodily injury to the officer while attempting to flee. 

The officer subsequently discharged his service weapon and Nayaran fled in the vehicle. Police later discovered the vehicle abandoned in a residential neighborhood in Galloway Township, but were unable to locate Nayaran.

The officer sustained a nonlife-threatening injury during the altercation. He was treated at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Mainland Campus, and released shortly thereafter.

Police searched for Nayaran throughout the night and into the early morning hours. The search for Nayaran and the investigation into this officer-involved shooting remains ongoing. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit is leading the investigation.

Anyone with information as to Nayaran’s whereabouts is asked to call Major Crimes at 609-909-7666.

Eluding a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault while eluding a law enforcement officer are both crimes of the second-degree and carry a sentence of between five-10 years in New Jersey State Prison and up to $150,000 in fines.

***These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.