2004 Media Releases:

CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
VINCENT P. SARUBBI, CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA   INFORMATION

May 12, 2004

Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi and Gloucester Township Police Chief John Stollsteimer reported today that Andre L. Freeman, M/23, is being held in the Camden County Correctional Facility on charges of Aggravated Assault, Criminal Restraint, Burglary and weapons offenses, accused of unlawfully entering the Gloucester Township apartment of his ex-girlfriend and assaulting her with a knife.

Freeman, of the 200 block of Chestnut Avenue in West Berlin, was charged on Monday, May 10, 2004, and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, cash or bond. The alleged incident took place in the La Cascata condominiums on Blackwood-Clementon Road in Gloucester Township, on Friday, April 30, 2004.

It is alleged that Freeman entered the 29-year-old victim's condominium at approximately 4:20 p.m., restrained her in a chokehold, waved a kitchen knife in her face in a threatening manner and cut her hand with the knife. Investigation indicates the knife stuck in the victim's hand, at which point the defendant released it and the victim grabbed the knife and thrust it at her alleged attacker. The knife penetrated the defendant's left side into his lung, requiring him to be admitted to a local hospital for treatment. The woman was also taken to a local hospital, where she was released after treatment for bruises as well as the hand wound.

Freeman is charged with two fourth-degree offenses, each carrying up to 18 months in New Jersey State Prison upon conviction; four third-degree offenses, each carrying up to five years; and one second-degree offense (Burglary), carrying up to 10 years.

All persons charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.