Lori Comstock
NJ Herald
HAMPTON, N.J. — Sussex County officials are condemning what they are calling an attack at Sussex County Sheriff Michael Strada’s home early Monday morning that involved gunfire and graffiti.
A report of gunshots being fired in the direction of or near Sussex County Sheriff Michael Strada’s home brought out a flurry of police activity to the area early Monday morning.
While details from State Police, who are lead in the investigation, are scarce, Trooper Charles Marchan said that “troopers responded to a call of a suspicious person” and confirmed that the response was “in the area of” Strada’s house. Marchan confirmed a call came in at 1:20 a.m. but declined to release any additional details immediately, instead stating that it was “an active investigation” on Monday afternoon.
He did not indicate if that suspicious person was found.
Sussex County First Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller stated his office was “aware of the incident occurring in the early morning hours near Sheriff Strada’s residence.” He added that his office is assisting state troopers and the sheriff’s office.
According to officials, the incident included the report of gunfire, as well as graffiti with “BLM” spray-painted on a sign, in the vicinity of Strada’s home.
Strada, when contacted by phone Monday while at his home, indicated he “did not want to comment” on the situation, but said his wife and children were “shaken up.”
Several law enforcement vehicles were parked in Strada’s driveway on Monday afternoon, with a few sheriff’s officers standing outside. A police scanner report indicated that the officers were assigned to “security detail,” a term used to describe the personal protection and security of an individual or group of individuals.
A few residents took to social media early Monday morning to report they saw helicopters flying in the area of Strada’s home prior to the sun rising, with another indicating they saw upwards of 50 law enforcement vehicles in front of Strada’s home.