Man indicted for attempted murder of a police officer

Published Sept. 3, 2009

An Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted a Vineland man on attempted murder and several other counts for allegedly shooting at a police officer during a motor vehicle stop in June, Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel announced.

At 11:55 a.m. on June 19, 2009, state Department of Human Services Police Officer Eric Hollinger who was assigned to the Vineland Residential Center, attempted to make a motor vehicle stop in Buena Borough when the driver, Daniel Szturma, 33, attempted to elude the officer and fled in his vehicle.

A short while later Szturma was located behind Ben’s Foreign Car, located at 110 West Atlantic Avenue in Buena Borough. Officer Hollinger attempted to arrest him and a struggle ensued, during which time Szturma gained control of the officer’s weapon. Szturma allegedly fired four rounds from the Officer’s 9 mm duty weapon. No one was injured during this incident and Szturma was taken into custody without further incident.

On Tuesday afternoon Chief Assistant Prosecutor Ellen Loughney presented the case to the Grand Jury. In addition to the attempted murder count, Szturma was indicted on three counts of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a weapon without a permit, eluding, resisting arrest and disarming a police officer while in the performance of his duties.

Szturma remains in the Atlantic County Justice Facility in lieu of $1 million cash bail pending further proceedings.

The Buena Borough Police Department and the state Department of Human Services assisted the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit in the investigation.

***These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.