TINTON FALLS - A father and daughter allege a Tinton Falls police officer used excessive force when he held them at gunpoint and shot their two German shepherds, killing one outside their Green Grove Road home.
Roberton Fullerton and his daughter Bobbi Rene Fullerton are suing the Borough of Tinton Falls, Police Officer Adrian Reyes, several officers referred to only as "John Does," and Police Chief John Scrivanic in federal court for an amount "yet to be determined."
The Fullertons claim their civil rights were violated.
"They were victims of excessive force. They were held at gunpoint by this officer (Reyes). They were scared out of their minds. The whole thing was very traumatic," the Fullerton's attorney Thomas J. Mallon told the Asbury Park Press.
Stock photo (Photo: BrianAJackson, Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The law firm Decotiis, Fitzpatrick, Cole and Giblin of Teaneck is representing Tinton Falls, Reyes and Scrivanic in the federal lawsuit. The firm didn't return a phone call from the Press seeking comment.
Scrivanic could not be immediately reached for comment.
According to federal court records, though, the defendants deny all allegations except that Robert Fullerton did comply with an order from Reyes "to get to the ground by getting on his knees."
The incident occurred Oct. 8, 2017. The suit was filed in November the following year.
Police was dispatched to the Fullerton residence following a 911 call reporting that Robert and his daughter Bobbi were arguing. Bobbi Fullerton was a juvenile at the time, Mallon said.
According to the lawsuit, there was no physical assault, and before any officers arrived, Robert Fullerton received a phone call from "longtime friend," Tinton Falls Police Officer Lt. Kyle Pearson.
According to the lawsuit, Fullerton told Pearson that everything was all right and that he had been arguing with his daughter. Pearson then tried to notify responding officers that "no assault had occurred," at the Fullerton's house.
Notwithstanding, the police went to Fullerton's home and knocked on the door. Robert Fullerton opened the door and stepped outside. Sadie, one of the plaintiffs' German shepherds, brushed passed Fullerton, walked onto the driveway "and was immediately shot three times," by Reyes, or one of the John Doe officers, the lawsuit said.
Reyes "then ordered Fullerton at gunpoint, with the gun pointed at his face, to get on the ground," according to the lawsuit.
Bobbi Fullerton then followed their other dog Hannah outside, at which time Hannah was shot twice. Bobbi was then ordered at gunpoint to the ground, according to the lawsuit.
Sadie died from the gunshots while Hannah was taken to a veterinary hospital. The Fullertons claim they incurred over $7,000 in veterinary expenses.
Tinton Falls real estate: House in Tinton Falls goes for $750K
The Fullertons were not charged with any crimes according to Mallon and a Press search of municipal court records. Neither was Reyes nor any Tinton Falls officer.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.
Poster Comment:
The Fullertons were not charged with any crimes according to Mallon and a Press search of municipal court records.
While apologists continue to claim “if you do nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about,” this case — like so many others before it — proves them entirely wrong.
#1: misterwhite To: Deckard (#0)
Wouldn't he say that even if he had killed her?
"Notwithstanding, the police went to Fullerton's home and knocked on the door."
Well, yeah. I would hope so.
misterwhite posted on 2019-08-17 11:17:20 Reply Private Reply
#2: Deckard To: misterwhite (#1)
According to the lawsuit, there was no physical assault, and before any officers arrived, Robert Fullerton received a phone call from "longtime friend," Tinton Falls Police Officer Lt. Kyle Pearson.
According to the lawsuit, Fullerton told Pearson that everything was all right and that he had been arguing with his daughter. Pearson then tried to notify responding officers that "no assault had occurred," at the Fullerton's house.
Deckard posted on 2019-08-17 11:22:31 Reply Private Reply
#3: misterwhite To: Deckard (#2)
We know that now, don't we. How were the cops to know that at the time?
I can imagine your reaction had the daughter been lying there bleeding to death but the cops never showed because the father told his "longtime friend" over the phone that she was fine.
You'll find a way to criticize the cops no matter what action they take.
misterwhite posted on 2019-08-17 11:33:55 Reply Private Reply
#4: Deckard To: misterwhite (#3)
Deckard posted on 2019-08-17 11:52:56 Reply Private Reply
#5: Tooconservative To: Deckard, misterwhite, Bob Celeste, redleghunter (#0)
It's good to recall some of LF's former posters. They're not entirely gone from here when their influence is still touching lives. It's worth remembering that when we remember them.
Tooconservative posted on 2019-08-18 18:33:08 Reply Private Reply
#6: redleghunter To: Tooconservative (#5)
redleghunter posted on 2019-08-19 15:38:46 Reply Private Reply
#7: nolu chan To: redleghunter, Tooconservative (#6)
R.I.P. 03/08/2019.
nolu chan posted on 2019-08-19 16:54:38 Reply Private Reply
#8: redleghunter To: nolu chan (#7)
Thank you, Rest in Peace brother Bob.
redleghunter posted on 2019-08-19 16:59:26 Reply Private Reply
#9: redleghunter To: nolu chan, A K A Stone, Liberator, TooConservative, Vicomte13 (#7)
"Gary moved to Overland Park, Kansas in 1955 where he later graduated from Shawnee Mission North. He attended the University of Kansas and later went on to obtain his Doctorate (PhD.) in Theology from Evangelical Bible Seminary in Kansas City, Kansas after 9 years of study. After a few years at the University of Kansas, he went on to become a demolition expert as a Green Beret with the United States Army. Gary had a successful 41 year career as an insurance agent for American Family Insurance, with agencies in Shawnee, KS. He was also very involved in both religious and political communities even spending many years working on translations for the New American Standard Bible. Gary also worked as a minister for the First Step Program at Lansing Correctional Facility mentoring and guiding prisoners toward re-entry into society. Politically, Gary served as a Republican committee member for 10 years and also served as the Vice President of Johnson County Chapter of Kansans for Life.
Everyone who knew him, recognized Gary as a Christian man of devout faith. Over the years, he attended several area churches including Overland Park Church of Christ, Johnson County Christian Church, and Johnson County Church of Christ. He was actively involved in each and often shared his religious knowledge as a Sunday School teacher or outside of class as a mentor to many others."
redleghunter posted on 2019-08-19 17:10:57 Reply Private Reply
#10: Vicomte13 To: redleghunter (#9)
Vicomte13 posted on 2019-08-19 17:32:56 Reply Private Reply
#11: redleghunter To: Vicomte13 (#10)
redleghunter posted on 2019-08-19 17:35:01 Reply Private Reply
#12: Tooconservative To: redleghunter (#9)
Tooconservative posted on 2019-08-19 19:01:59 Reply Private Reply
#13: redleghunter To: Tooconservative (#12)
redleghunter posted on 2019-08-20 01:30:27 Reply Private Reply
#14: sneakypete To: misterwhite (#3)
They couldn't have known that because they don't know anything about anything. Plus they were probably confused by light bouncing off their Ray Ban sunglasses and their polished badge and spit-shined shoes.
I have ONE Golden Rule in life,and it states that "If you purposely kill one of my pets that is not actually physically attacking you and putting you in fear of your life,*I* will kill you.",regardless of who you are.
sneakypete posted on 2019-08-20 10:52:34 Reply Private Reply