Cops: Woman Tried Strangling Officer, Defecated in Patrol Car

A woman defecated inside a Hackettstown Police car on Tuesday March 15 after she attempted to strangle a police officer, according to police.

The officer was on routine patrol when he observed a school-aged male walking along Washington St. in Hackettstown at 11:24 a.m., town police said. The officer stopped to speak with the juvenile male, and determined that the male was indeed supposed to be in school, police said.

While the officer was conducting the investigation, a woman, 49-year-old Pierotte Vassau, shouted at the officer from her window on two separate occasions, police said. The officer instructed Vassau to not interfere with the investigation, and to shut the window after each incident, according to police.

An additional officer arrived on the scene to assist the investigating officer, police said. The investigating officer brought the juvenile male back to school, and the assisting officer instructed Vassau to come out of her home, police said.

Police said that while the officer was reading Vassau her rights—arresting her for allegedly interfering with an investigation—Vassau grabbed the officer’s neck and began to squeeze. Vassau struggled with the officer and refused to put her hands behind her back, police said. After a short struggle, the officer was able to handcuff Vassau, according to police.

Vassau then refused to stand up from her position on the ground, and the officers had to physically place her in the back of the police cruiser, police said. Once inside the vehicle, Vassau then pulled her pants down and began smearing her feces on the seat, police said.

Vassau was then transported to Hackettstown Medical Regional Center for an medical condition not related to the incident, police said. She was then charged with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, obstructing the administration of law, aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and terroristic threats.

Vassau was reportedly unable to post the set bail of $12,500, and was lodged in the Warren County Correctional Facility.