Crime & Safety

Middletown Man Accused of Hitting, Dragging Officer With Car

Gregory Canova was charged with attempted murder.

A Middletown man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after striking a police officer with his car and dragging him a short distance, Middletown Police said.

Cpl. Daniel Murdoch attempted to arrest Gregory Canova, 37, at his Stephenville Boulevard home on Sunday, March 25 at 11:21 a.m. on charges filed by the Sea Girt and Wall Township Police Departments, according to a release.

Middletown police say Canova then struck and dragged Murdoch with his car. Murdoch is in stable condition and is being treated at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Detective Lt. Steve Dollinger said.

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Canova left the scene and was eventually located by Sgt. Charles Terefenko. Middletown police say Canova led officers on a pursuit and rammed Terefenko’s patrol car before crashing his car on Courtney Way in Middletown. He was then taken into custody.

Terefenko is also being treated at Riverview Medical Center for injuries sustained in the collision, according to the release.

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Canova was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, aggravated assault on a police officer, eluding police, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, the release said.

The outstanding charges against Canova from the Sea Girt Police Department include aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and violation of a court order. Canova faces charges of aggravated assault, terroristic threats, simple assault, and endangering the welfare of a child by the Wall Township Police Department, according to Middletown police.

Canova is being held at Monmouth County Jail, Freehold Township, on $882,500 cash bail.


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