TUCKERTON – The man at the center of last week’s manhunt following a shooting incident in Tuckerton is now back in Ocean County facing attempted murder, kidnapping, and weapons charges, announced Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Miguel Angel Villegas, 29, of New Haven, CT was charged with Attempted Murder, Kidnapping, Possession of a Weapon For an Unlawful Purpose and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.
On the morning of Nov. 21, a Tuckerton Police Officer exchanged gunfire with Villegas after the vehicle in which he was a passenger fled a lawful motor vehicle stop near the intersection of Route 9 and North Green Street. After fleeing the stop, this vehicle collided with another vehicle. Villegas fled on foot, causing a massive manhunt that would eventually lead to his capture in New York City.
Villegas waived extradition and is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing. In his mugshot, Villegas is sporting a neck brace most likely due to injuries sustained during the ordeal.
The officer was not injured during the shooting incident.
Prosecutor Billhimer would like to thank the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, United States Marshals Service, New York City Police Department, Tuckerton Borough Police Department, Little Egg Harbor Police Department, New Jersey State Police, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Center, New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, New Jersey Transit Police, Ocean County Regional SWAT, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, New Haven (Connecticut) Police, Port Authority Police, Tuckerton Fire Department, and Tuckerton Public Works Department for their outstanding work and collective assistance leading to the apprehension of Villegas and his return to Ocean County to face these charges.
