By: Richard L. Smith
A Newark man is facing a series of charges connected to two domestic violence incidents that took place earlier this month in Union County, authorities announced.
According to a statement released by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Derek Walker, 34, has been charged with aggravated assault and multiple firearms offenses following a collaborative investigation by the Elizabeth and Linden Police Departments, with assistance from the Prosecutor’s Office Domestic Violence Unit.
The first incident occurred on the evening of May 2, when Linden police were called to a hotel after receiving reports of a woman screaming for help on an upper floor.
Investigators say Walker assaulted and threatened the woman with two firearms before fleeing the scene.
Two days later, on May 4, Elizabeth police responded to reports of gunfire on Broad Street. Officers located a victim who reported that Walker had fired a weapon at her during the encounter.
Assistant Prosecutor Melissa Caparruva of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office said that investigators from both police departments, alongside the Domestic Violence Unit, gathered substantial evidence linking Walker to both cases.
Walker was apprehended in Newark on May 6 by the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force.
Authorities are asking anyone with additional information about these incidents to contact Union County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Jon Klimaszewski at 908-358-7957 or Elizabeth Police Detective Gino Quelopana at 908-578-8239.