New Jersey

Long Lines at NJ Motor Vehicle Commission Send Woman Into Violent Rage

When she was confronted during the second visit, the woman pushed the office manager and allegedly broke $23K in computer equipment

Inside a New Jersey MVC office

What to Know

  • A woman angry about long lines at a NJ Motor Vehicle Commission office smashed computer equipment, assaulted two staffers and kicked police officers as they tried to arrest her
  • The woman returned two hours after being asked to leave, and broke around $23,000 in computer equipment
  • She also pushed an officer manager and punched and kicked security guards, and was later found with drugs in her possession

A woman angry about long lines at a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission office smashed computer equipment, assaulted two staffers and kicked police officers as they tried to arrest her, authorities said.

Shawna Joseph, 28, of Jersey City, was told to leave the office in Bayonne around 2 p.m. Tuesday after she became irate over the length of the line of customers, authorities said. She then returned about two hours later and caused another disturbance.

When she was confronted during the second visit, Joseph pushed the office manager and began breaking computer equipment, authorities said, eventually causing $23,000 in damage overall.

The manager and a security guard struggled to remove Joseph from the office, and she repeatedly punched both of them, authorities said. Police soon arrived and, as they and the security guard tried to restrain Joseph, she repeatedly kicked the officers while they attempted to handcuff her, authorities said.

Joseph was later found to have a PCP-laced marijuana cigarette in her possession, authorities said. She was charged with criminal mischief, drug possession, aggravated assault and hindering apprehension.

Joseph could not be reached for comment Wednesday. A phone listing for her could not be found, and authorities did not know whether she had an attorney.

The office manager suffered an undisclosed injury and was treated at a hospital, authorities said.

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