Video: Mayor questions release of gun suspect
By Kevin Coughlin
Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty calls for legislation in the wake of a judge’s decision that enabled a man to post bail after being arrested in Headquarters Plaza for allegedly bringing semi-automatic handguns and hollow-point bullets into the place last week.
Andrew Pfitzenmayer, 26, of Peapack-Gladstone, was freed on $100,000 bail on Monday.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office asked Superior Court Judge Stephen Taylor to require a psychiatric evaluation first, but the judge declined to do so.
The Mayor vowed to seek legislation to make such exams mandatory in these types of cases. (See the above video, starting around the 5 minute mark.)
Headquarters plaza includes a daycare center, a movie theater, a hotel and the Secret Service.
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In wake of weapons arrest, Morristown mayor calls for mandatory psych evaluations of gun suspects
Video: Press conference, part 2
Curious as to why Judge Taylor would refuse the prosecutor’s request for a psych evaluation before releasing this dangerous individual on bail, I looked him up. Unsurprisingly, Taylor is a longtime Christie lapdog. https://watchdog.org/71891/senate-oks-christies-offer-to-dcj-chief/
I am completely in support of Mayor Dougherty’s efforts to secure this very necessary and preventative legislation. I do not live in Morris County, but have contacted 2 N.J. mayors asking that they provide their support to Mayor Dougherty to secure this legislation. I hope that many others reach out ti their mayor, and other mayors in this regard,.
As Mayor Dougherty stated, it is only “common sense ” that one who is arrested for concealing weapins in any public place should receive psych. evaluations before release by any means, including bail, can be considered.