Man Who Sparked Police Manhunt Near Village School Indicted

A Holmdel man was indicted on aggravated assault and gun charges Tuesday in the November 3, 2011 incident that sparked an intense manhunt in the Village Elementary School area by police with dogs, Sheriff's officers and a State Police helicopter.

Christopher J. Mazzarisi, who was 20 and living at 16 Burgundy Drive in Holmdel at the time of his arrest, is facing charges by the Monmouth County Prosecutor for possession of a .22 caliber rifle for an unlawful purpose, aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault by pointing a firemarm, terroristic threats and criminal restraint.

Mazzarisi is not facing a charge of attempted murder, alleged by Holmdel Police at the time of his arrest.

The Monmouth County Grand Jury's vote to indict is a formal accusation of a crime, not a conviction.

According to Holmdel Police records, a 19-year old Hazlet woman came to police headquarters at Holmdel Town Hall at 1 p.m. on Nov. 9 to report she had been the victim of a domestic violence incident with her boyfriend. She told police a gun was involved.

Police went to his Burgundy Drive home, across the street from Village Elementary, but found nobody home. An intense search was called. The principal of Village Elementary School was advised, and put the school on lockdown from 2:00 - 3:35 p.m. as police combed the area on foot and by air.

The next day Mazzarisi surrendered to Holmdel Police accompanied by attorney, Edward Plaza of Weir and Plaza, Red Bank NJ.

Bail was set by Honorable JSC Richard W. English, at $350,000 no 10% option. At the time, Mazzarisi was unable to post bail and was transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institute in default of bail.