FRANKLIN TWP., N.J. – Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson and Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor announced that Mr. Matthew D. Ellery, 29, of Middlesex, New Jersey pled guilty to possession of a controlled dangerous substance (heroin) and driving while intoxicated.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that today, defendant Matthew D. Ellery appeared before the Hon. Kevin M. Shanahan, P.J.Cr. in Superior Court in Somerville and pled guilty to Accusation No. 19-07-00419-A charging one count of 3rd degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance (heroin) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1), and summons 1808-G-225625 charging driving while intoxicated in violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-50, his first offense.
Officials say Defendant Ellery pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement under which he will apply for admission into the five year Somerset County Drug Court Program, with an alternative sentence in the 3rd degree range of three to five years in New Jersey State Prison if he fails to successfully complete the Drug Court Program; a seven month suspension of his driver’s license, associated fines and penalties, and forfeiture of his position as a police officer with the Franklin Township Police Department (FTPD).
Defendant Ellery’s Accusation and guilty plea stem from an incident that occurred at approximately 1:08am on April 7th.
Officials say at that time, defendant Ellery was on-duty working as a police officer for the Franklin Township Police Department.
Franklin Township Police Department Communications attempted to contact defendant Ellery via the radio, but he did not respond.
The Franklin Township Police Department dispatched another officer, who travelled to defendant Ellery’s last known location and discovered his patrol car parked in the driveway of a Bennetts Lane business.
The officer approached defendant Ellery’s patrol car and found defendant Ellery unresponsive in the driver’s seat.
The responding officer, who is also an EMT, determined that defendant Ellery was experiencing an opiate overdose because he was cyanotic, had no carotid pulse, and was not breathing.
The officer removed defendant Ellery from the vehicle and administered two doses of Naloxone to him.
After receiving the two doses of Naloxone and before the officer could commence CPR, defendant Ellery regained consciousness. Defendant Ellery was then transported to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick by EMS personnel.
Defendant Ellery is scheduled to be sentenced on August 23, 2019.