An off-duty female cop in New Jersey was arrested for allegedly smashing her way into a home and then assaulting two people inside in a violent home invasion, authorities said.
Toms River Police Officer Rebecca A. Sayegh — who previously sued her department for alleged sexual harassment — is accused of breaking into the house in Berkeley Township just before 11:30 p.m. Friday, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said.
The 32-year-old cop allegedly “smashed the front glass door” of the property before assaulting and threatening the two people who lived there.
Moments before the alleged home invasion, the off-duty cop also trashed the hood of one of the victims’ cars parked in the driveway of the Evernhan Avenue home, prosecutors alleged.
It wasn’t immediately clear if — or how — Sayegh knew the others involved.
However, prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said officers had responded to a “domestic disturbance.”
Sayegh was cuffed at the scene after initially resisting arrest, authorities said.
She was slapped with a slew of charges, including home invasion burglary, assault, criminal mischief, terroristic threats, and resisting arrest.
The cop is currently holed up at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
“As per our chief of police, we do not have a comment on the matter and refer all inquiries to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office,” Toms River Police Lt. Ron Sermarini told the Asbury Park Press when asked about the officer’s arrest.
The ordeal comes roughly six months after Sayegh hit her employer with a lawsuit alleging that a “Boys Club” in the department ranks resulted in her being sexually harassed and passed over for promotions.
