By: Richard L. Smith
A road rage incident in Newark's North Ward took a violent turn this afternoon when an off-duty Essex County Sheriff's officer was attacked.
Police rushed to the scene at 31 Elwood Avenue around 12:47 p.m. following a distress call.
Upon arrival, officers discovered an off-duty Essex County Sheriff's Deputy Division officer with a head injury.
Preliminary information revealed that the injury resulted from an assault by the driver of another vehicle involved in a prior collision.
The suspect had reportedly followed the officer for some distance before launching the attack.
A swift police response led to the arrest of the suspect, who was found in a white Toyota in the 400 block of Bloomfield Avenue.
The injured sheriff captain was transported to University Hospital for treatment and is expected to recover.
The incident remains under investigation as authorities work to piece together the details of the road rage encounter.
