Major discipline · 2022[1]
Suspended 15 days- Rank as reported
- Patrolman
- Sustained charge(s)
- Separated while IA pending
- not applicable (collected 2023 and later)
Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)
On August 16, 2021, Patrolman Joshua Gardner was involved in a foot pursuit of a suspect connected to a report of burglary to a motor vehicle. When the suspect stopped and raised his hands, Gardner tackled him and struck him in the face, causing a laceration. At another location tied to the same attempted theft, Gardner entered a shed with his service weapon drawn and jabbed his firearm into a hiding suspect's side while pulling him to the ground. The Bordentown Township Police Department suspended Gardner for 15 days.
Synopsis as reported by the agency
On August 16, 2021 Ptl. Gardner was involved in a foot pursuit of a suspect in connection with a report of burglary to a motor vehicle. During the pursuit, the suspect finally stopped and raised his hands. Ptl. Gardner tackled him and struck the suspect in the face. The suspect suffered injuries including a laceration to the face. Ptl. Gardner later arrived at a location where two other suspects involved in the same attempted theft were located. Ptl. Gardner entered a shed with his service weapon drawn where one suspect was hiding in the corner. While pulling the suspect to the ground Ptl. Gardner jabbed his firearm into the suspect’s side.