A Monmouth County Grand Jury has returned a 19-count indictment against a man for a series of crimes that took place in the early hours of August 14, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Friday.
Altonia Williams, 46, was indicted on one count of Armed Robbery and Armed Burglary, four counts of Aggravated Assault by Pointing a Firearm, one count each of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose, Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, Eluding, Hindering, Certain Persons Not to Have a Weapon, Felony Murder, Vehicular Homicide, Aggravated Manslaughter while Eluding, Aggravated Assault While Eluding, Knowingly Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Death, Driving While Suspended Causing Death and Assault by Auto.
On Monday, August 14, shortly before 4 a.m., Long Branch Police were dispatched to Narragansett Avenue for a report of an armed home invasion. The caller was awoken in the middle of the night and discovered a man in the living room armed with a gun demanding money. Police responded to the area and located a white BMW driving away from the scene.
Long Branch Police Corporal Cruz ordered the driver to stop; however, he fled. Minutes later, Long Branch Police Officer Brito observed the vehicle driving towards him at a high rate of speed. The white BMW then collided with Officer Brito’s patrol car. During the collision, which occurred in the area of MacArthur and Elmwood Avenues in Long Branch, the 38-year-old female front seat passenger in the BMW, was seriously injured. She was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) in Neptune, where she was pronounced deceased at approximately 7:12 a.m. Officer Brito was also transported to JSUMC for treatment of injuries from the collision. He was treated and later released.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as Williams, fled the vehicle after the crash
and was found hiding in a bush with a loaded handgun.