Off Duty NYPD Officer Arrested In Watchung Following Shooting Investigation

An off duty NYPD officer was arrested in Watchung early Wednesday morning after she allegedly fired a shot outside of the residence where she reportedly had an altercation with another woman. 

Wanda Anthony, 43, of Staten Island, was arrested for driving while intoxicated after refusing to submit to a field sobriety test and charged with carrying a weapon for unlawful purpose and aggravated assault. 

Prosecutor Soriano states that on Wednesday, April 30at approximately 3:30 a.m., Watchung Police responded to a 9-1-1 call at a residence on High Tor Drive on a report of shots fired. 

The caller provided responding officers with a description of the suspect vehicle and New York vehicle registration.  Additional officers responding to the scene came upon the suspect vehicle fleeing the area.  Watchung Officers conducted a high risk motor vehicle stop.  Defendant Anthony was the operator and sole occupant of the vehicle. 

At the time of the stop, defendant Anthony informed the officers that she was an officer with the New York City Police Department and that she had a weapon along with police identification inside her vehicle.  Defendant Anthony was transported to the Watchung Police Headquarters pending further investigation.

Prosecutor Soriano states that Detectives from the Watchung Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes and the Crime Scene and Forensics Units responded to conduct the investigation.  

The investigation revealed that defendant Anthony had been out during the evening with an individual and had accompanied this person back to his residence where an altercation between defendant Anthony and another female occurred.  During the course of this altercation, defendant Anthony retrieved a handgun from her vehicle and displayed same. 

The resident and other female ran back into the residence at which time they heard what they described as a single gunshot. Officers observed a black Mercedes Benz vehicle parked in the driveway of the residence with damage from a bullet that travelled from the rear driver side window into the passenger compartment. A shell casing matching the bullet that was lodged in the vehicle’s frame was found in the driveway.

Prosecutor Soriano states that while at Watchung Police Headquarters defendant Anthony was asked to submit to field sobriety testing which she refused.  She was then placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated.  

Following the execution of a Superior Court Search warrant on the defendant’s vehicle, detectives recovered a 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun and New York City Police credentials.  Defendant Anthony was charged with Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose, 2nd degree, and Aggravated Assault, 4th Degree. 

Bail for defendant Anthony was set by the Honorable Robert Reed, J.S.C. at $60,000 cash or bond which defendant Anthony subsequently posted.  

Prosecutor Soriano, Chief Fitzgerald and Chief Cina request anyone with information pertaining to this incident to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100, the Watchung Borough Police Department at (908) 756-3663, or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”.  All calls will be kept confidential.