Two police officers identified in fatal shooting
Suspect allegedly lunged at S.B. officers with knife
BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer
South Brunswick police shot and killed 23-year-old Jacob Olson after a recent car chase on Route 1.

The Ewing man was allegedly speeding when a South Brunswick police officer attempted a motor vehicle stop on the highway last week. The incident ultimately led the police officer, along with another South Brunswick police officer, to shoot and kill Olson at around 11:14 p.m. Jan. 12, according to a press release issued by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

The officers have been identified as Frank Lombardo, 40, a 14-year veteran of the department, and Sean Roberts, 29, who has been with South Brunswick for 21 months.

An initial investigation revealed preliminary information about the incident, prosecutors said. One of the officers was in a marked police vehicle when he reportedly observed the driver of a 2007 Jeep Compass exceeding the speed limit of 55 mph on the northbound side of Route 1 near the intersection of Raymond Road.

The officer activated the police vehicle's overhead lights and attempted to pull the suspect's vehicle over. The suspect reportedly continued to speed toward the highway's intersection with Route 522.

The suspect allegedly applied the brakes and suddenly collided with the police officer in pursuit of him. The police officer then drove in front of the suspect, who allegedly struck the patrol car from behind several times.

Both motorists stopped their vehicles and stepped out of their cars at the intersection of Routes 1 and 522. Olson was allegedly armed with a knife in his hands and lunged at the police officer, who stepped back and drew his gun.

Olson allegedly ignored orders from the police officer to drop his weapon. He allegedly advanced toward the police officer and another uniformed police officer who arrived at the scene in a marked police vehicle.

The police officers stepped back further and repeated their orders for Olson to drop the knife. Olson allegedly ignored their commands and both police officers fired their .40-caliber service handguns at him, striking him multiple times.

An ambulance transported Olson toRobert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, where he was pronounced dead at 12:03 a.m. Jan. 13.

In an autopsy performed Jan. 13, Middlesex County Medical Examiner Andrew Falzon determined that Olson died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds to his neck, pelvis and lower extremities. A release from the prosecutor's office on Jan. 20 stated that the two officers fired a total of six shots, four of which struck Olson.

Both police officers have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure when an officer is involved in a shooting.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office stated that all officers involved in shooting incidents are required to attend a confidential debriefing with a department approved medical professional within 48 hours of the incident. The decision on whether to allow the two officers involved in the recent shooting to return to work is based on a review of the examining doctor's evaluation report and results of the investigation.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office also stated in a release that it has jurisdiction in police shootings that result in a fatality, and as a matter of policy it is the only agency permitted to comment on the details of the case. The prosecutor's office also states that having an independent agency such as the prosecutor's office conduct the investigation and disseminate information assures an impartial and fair review of the incident to determine whether the officers acted in accordance with the law.T

he incident is the second fatal police shooting in town since 1999, when South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka, who was a sergeant at the time, shot and killed a Raleigh Road resident during a tense confrontation in his home. A grand jury determined that the shooting was justified, in part because the 30-yearold man, who had a metal deficiency, allegedly lunged at Hayducka with a sword blade.

Police are reviewing a videotape of the Route 1 shooting as well as other evidence in this investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator James Mullin, of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, at 732- 745-4328.