A 32-year-old New Jersey police officer has been arrested after allegedly breaking into her ex-boyfriend’s home and violently assaulting two people inside.
Rebecca Sayegh, a nine-year Toms River Police Department veteran, was arrested Friday and charged with one count each of first-degree home invasion burglary, terroristic threats, and resisting arrest, authorities said.
Sayegh was additionally charged with two counts of assault and criminal mischief.
According to an Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office news release, officers from the Berkeley Township Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance call at a residence on Evernhan Avenue around 11:20 p.m. on Friday. The home is approximately 65 miles south of Newark, New Jersey.
When first responders arrived at the address, they quickly discovered an adult female — later identified as Sayegh — who they said had “smashed the front glass door of the residence, entered the residence, and then assaulted and threatened two victims inside the residence,” prosecutors wrote. Sayegh was reportedly off duty at the time of the alleged incident.
“It was also determined that Sayegh damaged the hood of a vehicle belonging to one of the victims which was parked in the driveway of the residence,” according to the news release. “Sayegh was taken into custody at the scene — after having resisted efforts to peacefully place her under arrest.”
According to New Jersey Advance Media, Sayegh’s boyfriend was at the house with another woman when she allegedly broke in and physically assaulted both of them before smashing several items. As she was being led away by police, Sayegh allegedly threatened to burn down her ex-boyfriend’s house.
Sayegh was initially served with the charges listed above via summons. However, due to the “serious nature” of the charges brought against her, Sayegh was re-charged via warrant on April 28. Police arrested her at her home and transported her to the Ocean County Jail.
Sayegh made her first court appearance on Tuesday before Brick Township Municipal Judge Joseph Grisanti, according to the Asbury Park Press. During the hearing, Grisanti reportedly informed Sayegh that prosecutors wanted to hold her without bond until the case against her was resolved. The judge ultimately ordered Sayegh to remain in detention until a bond motion hearing on Friday.
“Officer Sayegh understands the significance of the charges filed against her,” her attorney, Terrance Turnbach, told the Park Press. “She has been a member of the Toms River Police Department for nearly nine years, proudly serving her community.” She is taking all necessary steps to properly address the issue at hand and will cooperate throughout the legal proceedings.
In October 2024, Sayegh filed a lawsuit alleging that the Toms River Police Department was a “Boys Club” that denied her promotions despite the fact that she performed her duties “in an exemplary fashion.” According to court records reviewed by Law&Crime, Sayegh faced sexual harassment, disparate treatment, and retaliation because of her gender.
According to the lawsuit, Sayegh’s superior officers “spread false and defamatory rumors” that she was “sleeping with various male coworkers” and also “commented on Plaintiff’s appearance and insinuated that Plaintiff could not complete the responsibilities of her position simply because she is a woman.”
Sayegh’s case against the department is still pending.