Jeffrey R. Wass is being detained in the Burlington County Jail. An arraignment will be held Oct. 10 in Superior Court.
The following report is on file with the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office:
Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina has announced that a Marlton resident has been indicted on charges related to allegedly shooting at an Evesham Township police officer who went to the man’s apartment for a well-being check earlier this year.
A Burlington County Grand Jury indicted Jeffrey R. Wass, 55, of the Nieuw Amsterdam Apartments on North Maple Avenue, on two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose (second degree), two counts of aggravated assault (second degree, third degree), unlawful possession of a weapon (second degree), certain persons not to have firearms (third degree), and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer (fourth degree).
An arraignment will be held Oct. 10 in Superior Court. Wass is being detained in the Burlington County Jail.
According to officials from the prosecutor’s office, the investigation revealed that on May 24, Evesham police and fire personnel were called to the apartment complex by a maintenance worker who entered Wass’s apartment to investigate the odor of natural gas and discovered him unconscious on the couch.
Upon entering the unit, the worker discovered that the burners on the gas stove had been turned on, but were not lit. The worker turned off the burners, and PSE&G was called to the scene to shut down gas and electric service to the entire building to prevent an explosion.
Evesham police were able to establish verbal contact with Wass from the doorway of his apartment, but Wass instructed officers not to enter. When several attempts to establish phone contact failed, an Evesham officer returned to the door of the apartment and yelled inside, asking him to answer his phone. Wass responded by firing a gunshot inside the apartment.
Officers took cover and, after several unsuccessful attempts to re-initiate contact with Wass over the course of several hours, a tactical robot was deployed by New Jersey State Police. Images transmitted by the robot showed that Wass was incapacitated on his sofa. Entry was then made and Wass was safely taken into custody.
Officials with the prosecutor’s office say a 9mm pistol was recovered inside the apartment during the execution of a search warrant.
The case is being prosecuted by assistant prosecutor Michael Angermeier, supervisor of the BCPO Gun Violence Unit. The investigation was conducted by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the Evesham Township Police Department, with assistance from the New Jersey State Police. The lead investigators were BCPO Detective Tim Van Fossen and Evesham Police Detective Michael Hatler.
According to officials from the prosecutor’s office, the indictment is merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.
