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Two police officers said they had to draw their guns to stop 58-year-old Greg Schrumpf from running them down after he threw the loot onto the roof of a River Road shopping center and tried to flee on June 5.
Officers Derek Mattessich and Michael Lafrano were on a motor-vehicle stop in front of the Brookchester (Shop-Rite) Shopping Center when they heard cries for help, Police Chief Frank Papapietro said.
They saw Schrumpf running through the parking lot, he said.
Close behind were Alexander Garibian, the owner of New Milford Delicatessen, and Jewelry by Vincent owner Vincent Aveta.
Garibian grabbed the accused thief and began struggling with him before Schrumpf got into his car, Papapietro said.
With Aveta hanging on, Schrumpf gunned the black VW Passat out of its space, pinning Garibian and sideswiping other vehicles, he said.
He headed toward both officers, who drew their guns, Papapietro said.
Schrumpf then stopped the car, he said.
The officers tended to Aveta and got Schrumpf out of the car and into custody.
Aveta told police that Schrumpf took $25,000 in jewelry from his store in May and $3,500 worth in the June incident. Borough firefighters using a tower ladder fetched the haul from the roof of the shopping center.
Schrumpf remained held on $100,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail, charged with three counts of each of theft, robbery and defacing gold jewelry.
MUGSHOT: Courtesy NEW MILFORD PD
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