A New Jersey police officer was charged with multiple crimes after allegedly breaking into her ex-boyfriend’s home, assaulting two people and threatening to burn the house, court documents show.
Rebecca Sayegh, a 32-year-old official at the Toms River Police Department, was accused of using her baton to break into the front door of a Berkeley residence at about 11:20 p.m. Friday. Her ex-partner was inside the home with another woman, and she allegedly faced her before a physical dispute.
Based on the affidavit of possible reasons, Sayegh pushed and pushed two people. She broke as they tried to tie her up in the living room and began smashing pictures of household items and wall installations.
Authorities said she also refused to arrest and was in a melee with the responding officials. Sayegh allegedly threatened to burn the house while leaving the scene. Before breaking in, she was also accused of damaging the hood of one of the victims’ vehicles.
She now faces several charges, including family invasion theft, two counts of assault, two counts of criminal mischief, terrorist threats and resistance to arrest.
Her attorney Terrance Turnbach said Sayegh is taking the allegations seriously and is working with ongoing legal processes. “She has been a member of the Toms River Police Department and has been proud to serve her community for nearly nine years,” he said.
According to the Ocean County Attorney’s Office, Sayegh has been suspended. The official had previously filed a lawsuit against her department, alleging six months before the incident.
