The Newark Star-Ledger
SPRINGFIELD, N.J. (AP) -- A police officer accused of staging his own shooting now plans to resign from the force and plead guilty to a lesser charge, his lawyer said.
Officer Christopher LaFragola is charged with conduct unbecoming an officer, and other offenses stemming from a July 14 incident in which police say he shot himself, then tried to make it look like he had been assaulted.
Authorities said LaFragola, 39, fired twice into his bulletproof vest, then radioed headquarters that he had been shot. The call touched off a frantic hunt for a car carrying two suspects that didn’t exist.
LaFragola, an 18-year police veteran in this Newark suburb, faces disciplinary charges filed Tuesday that seek to dismiss him from the department. Police Chief William Chrisholm said LaFragola would likely have to first face criminal charges before a departmental hearing.
LaFragola said he was ambushed he was checking out a car. Videotape from the surveillance camera at a nearby office building showed LaFragola’s car -- and no one else -- in the area.
While authorities allege LaFragola staged the shooting for financial reasons, his lawyer said the officer simply snapped.
“There’s no question it was a mental breakdown,” attorney Joseph Spagnoli told The Star-Ledger of Newark.
The recently divorced officer was released last week from a psychiatric facility after 17 days and now home in Brick Township with his ex-wife, Spagnoli said.
Spagnoli said he does not expect the case against LaFragola to go to trial.
“I’m looking to plead him guilty to something, hopefully something not as severe as second-degree misconduct, and part of it will be resignation,” he said.