A shooting on Ridge Ave in Asbury Park reportedly involved a
Neptune police officer. The suspect (center) is arrested —June 16, 2015.
(Photo: Bob Bielk/Asbury Park Press)
Sgt. Philip Seidle, 51, of Neptune Township police has been charged with murder, unlawful possession of a weapon and endangering his daughter's welfare in connection with the the death of Tamara Seidle, also 51, said Mark LeMieux, first assistant prosecutor in Monmouth County, N.J. The couple, who divorced May 27, had nine children ranging in age from 7 to 24.
The fatal shooting began around 11:30 a.m. ET when Seidle, who was off duty, chased his ex-wife as she was driving through the streets here, LeMieux said.
As Tamara Seidle was trying to flee, her vehicle crashed into a parked car. Philip Seidle then swerved his Honda Pilot into hers, got out of the car, pulled out his handgun and approached her car, immediately firing into the driver's side several times, LeMieux said.
The officer ran out of the car, yelling at his ex-wife inside about child-custody battles, witnesses said.
"The guy was in the middle of the street," said Michael Terrell, a witness who was working at Campbell's Door Supply Co . "He was saying, 'I'm tired of going to court.' "
Once Philip Seidle stopped shooting, he put his gun to his head and started walking around her vehicle, police said. Officers, who were nearby investigating an unrelated motor-vehicle accident, started talking to Philip Seidle and got him to allow them to take his daughter out of his SUV.
As she was taken away, Philip Seidle then walked to the front of his wife's car and fired into the windshield.
"It was shocking," said Terrell, a Neptune Township resident.
He then put his gun to his head again. For the next 30 minutes, officers tried to get him to surrender.
"Put the gun down," Trina Poyser of Asbury Park, recalled the responding officers saying. "It's not worth it."
"My kids, my kids!" he yelled. "I'm not going to see them anymore."
He was taken into custody without further incident. Philip Seidel has been with the Neptune Township Police Department for 22 years and earned more than $125,000 last year.
"He was a well-respected cop in the area," said Dianna Harris, a township resident and zoning board member. "Nobody knows what triggered this, and that's what makes it so sad." Of course these types of statements are pure BS. New Jersey cops are real law breakers, liars, crooks and killers.
Neighbor Linda Jones, who witnessed the incident, said she knows Philip Seidle.
"It looks like he just snapped," she said. "I'm sad for the wife. I'm sad for the children, I'm sad for him."