A New Jersey man has sued Ocean County police, saying officers failed to protect him from a man who shot and seriously injured him last year.
The 55-year-old says in court papers that Tuckerton Police Department officers neglected to stop an ‘unreasonable person’ from shooting him at Jarvis Marine in Little Egg Harbor.
The shooting happened around 7:30 p.m. on January 5, 2021 at the Radio Road Marina, according to news releases from the Ocean County District Attorney’s Office. The victim was rushed to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, where he was treated for his injuries and later released.
Donald Rutter, of Tuckerton, was arrested in Atlantic City and later charged with attempted murder and weapons. Rutter, 53, pleaded guilty earlier this year to second-degree aggravated assault and fourth-degree harassment.
Rutter is currently serving a five-year sentence in state prison, according to public records.
The lawsuit, filed Nov. 4 in Ocean County Superior Court, alleges that Tuckerton police did nothing to protect the shooting victim, despite Rutter allegedly making “terrorist threats” and having has already been the subject of a temporary restraining order filed against him by another person.
Officers failed to obtain a domestic violence warrant for the search and seizure of Rutter’s weapons, nor did they notify the county attorney’s office as required by New Jersey law, according to the pursuit.
Tuckerton Borough Administrator Jenny Gleghorn said Thursday she had reviewed the lawsuit but could not comment on ongoing litigation. “I will say that the borough police department follows all the rules and regulations that they are required to follow,” according to state and local guidelines, Gleghorn said.
The victim, who was shot in the abdomen, says in the suit that she suffered disfigurement, permanent injuries and became disabled as a result of the shooting.
The victim’s attorneys are seeking a jury trial, unspecified damages and asking that the injured man’s medical expenses be covered by Tuckerton’s insurance policies.
Anthony G. Attrino can be attached to tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. To find NJ.com on Facebook.
