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2020 News Release

State Police Arrest Two Men for Allegedly Assaulting Man with Special Needs

Lebanon Boro, N.J. - The Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ State Police have arrested Stephen McDaniel, 33, of Edison, N.J. and Jared Thaxton, 30, of Newark, N.J., for allegedly assaulting a 25-year-old man with special needs outside of his residence.

On November 1, 2017, troopers responded to the report of an assault at an apartment complex in Lebanon Boro, Hunterdon County.  The victim alleged that two men approached him outside of his apartment and dragged him to the rear of the apartment complex where they verbally threatened and assaulted him before fleeing in a vehicle.

During the investigation, detectives from the State Police Forensic Imaging Unit worked with the victim to create a composite sketch of one of the suspects. Through various investigative means, troopers identified McDaniel as one of the suspects and established evidence linking him to the assault. As a result, troopers issued a warrant for his arrest.

On January 7, 2020, detectives from the Troop “B” Criminal Investigation Office, Troop “B” Strategic Investigations Unit and Fugitive Unit, along with members of the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force- Newark located and arrested Stephen McDaniel at his residence in Edison. He was charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threats, and lodged at the Hunterdon County Jail pending a detention hearing.

As a result of the on-going investigation, troopers discovered Thaxton was the previous owner of the vehicle seen leaving the scene of the incident, and identified him as the second suspect. On February 13, 2020, Jared Thaxton turned himself in to troopers at Perryville Station, where he was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threats. He was released pending a court date.

This case is being prosecuted by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office.

Charges are mere accusations and the accused are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Stephen McDaniel

Jared Thaxton

Composite Sketch

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