Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrea C. Carey announced today that a Newark man, who failed to appear in court for sentencing on charges of aggravated assault of a police officer, was arrested this morning on a federal warrant.
Atlanta FBI agents and the Task Force Officers of the FBI arrested 27-year-old Donnell Cook, of Newark, today at Lithonia, Georgia home.
An extensive search for Cook included the coordinated efforts of the FBI Atlanta Field Office, the FBI Newark Field Office, Task Force Officers of the FBI, Atlanta Metro Major Offenders’ (AMMO) Task Force, and the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office after Cook failed to appear for sentencing at the Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick on September 29, 2017.
According to police, he previously pleaded guilty to second degree aggravated assault of a police officer stemming from a vehicle pursuit where the New Brunswick officer was dragged approximately fifty feet.
A federal Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution (UFAP) warrant was obtained after the initial fugitive investigation indicated that Cook fled to the metro Atlanta area. Cook is currently being detained at the Dekalb County Detention Facility in Georgia awaiting extradition to New Jersey.
As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Cook are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.