N.J. State Trooper Allegedly Shoots Own Dog Dead, Assaults Cop: Police 

A New Jersey state trooper was arrested after allegedly shooting his own dog at his condo — and later assaulting a police officer who tried to calm him down. 

After midnight on Thursday, residents of a condo complex called police after they heard a “commotion” which included a gun going off, the Wayne Police Department told the Bergen Record. 

Several minutes later, Wayne police officers were leaving police headquarters when they found a man in the parking lot “acting erratically,” according to the outlet. 

Police identified Alexander Lark, a resident of the condo and an active New Jersey State Trooper, as the man who condo residents called about. He was allegedly found destroying a stop sign in the parking lot, Wayne Detective Capt. Daniel Daly told the Record.

Lark appeared to be under the influence of a substance, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by the Record. 

Officers tried to calm down Lark, at which point he shoved one of them, according to Daly. Lark was taken to the ground by officers, restrained and placed under arrest. He was then taken to a local hospital for evaluation. 

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Upon entering Lark’s condo, police found his dog, which he allegedly shot and killed with his Glock 43 service handgun, according to the affidavit cited by the Record. The gun was on the floor next to the dog. 

According to the outlet, Lark was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Daly said he was additionally charged with a municipal ordinance for shooting his gun and that animal cruelty charges are pending. 

Lark has been employed by the state police since 2017, according to public records.

The Wayne Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE for comment on Lark’s ongoing and future charges.