‘You just never know what you’re going to face’

Man held for trial, accused of pointing gun at Whitemarsh police officer’s head

WHITEMARSH >> A New Jersey man was held for trial on attempted homicide-related charges for allegedly pointing a stolen gun at a Whitemarsh Township police officer’s head and attempting to fire the weapon as the officer investigated reports of a suspicious person in a township neighborhood.

Reynaldo Figueroa-Ardon, 20, of Vineland, N.J., was ordered to stand trial, after a preliminary hearing before District Court Judge Deborah Lukens, on charges of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault in connection with the alleged March 10 incident in the area of Mulberry Lane and Ridge Pike in the Lafayette Hill section of Whitemarsh.

Figueroa-Ardon, who also faces charges of receiving stolen property, possession of a prohibited firearm, firearm not to be carried without a license, possession of a weapon and recklessly endangering another person, faces a formal arraignment hearing on all the charges in county court in May. A judge could set a trial date at that hearing.

Figueroa-Ardon, of the 1400 block of Wallace Street, remains in the county jail in lieu of $3.5 million cash bail while awaiting trial.

During the hearing, township Police Officer Matthew Stadulis testified about his alleged encounter with Figueroa-Ardon.

“Obviously, it was hard for him. It was difficult re-living it,” said Assistant District Attorney Allison Ruth, referring to Stadulis’ testimony. “It’s so frightening for a law enforcement officer. You get up and go to work and you just never know what you’re going to encounter that day.”

Officials previously revealed that Stadulis is a husband and a father.

County Detective Anthony Francesco Caso testified that the firearm had previously been reported stolen and that Figueroa-Ardon, during an interview by detectives, demonstrated how he pointed the gun at Stadulis and pulled the trigger.

Ruth, captain of the district attorney’s firearms unit, played a portion of Figueroa-Ardon’s video