Elvin Copson. Department of Corrections photo.

COURT HOUSE — A commercial fisherman from Ohio with local ties was planning to kill two Middle Township police officers, according to the county Prosecutor’s Office.

Elvin Copson, 41, of Toledo, Ohio, was arrested without incident at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4 in the 3000 block of Route 9 in Rio Grande. He was charged with two counts each of attempted murder and conspiracy and remanded to county jail in lieu of $1 million bail.

Police said Copson was raised in this county and subsequently moved to Ohio.

According to a release from Prosecutor Robert Taylor and Middle Township Police Chief Joseph Evangelista, the arrest culminated a two-month “murder for hire” investigation by detectives from both agencies’ Major Crime Units.

Captain Eugene Taylor, of the Prosecutor’s Office, told the Herald that Copson conspired to murder two Middle Township police officers, Patrolmen Steven Novsak and Matthew Martino, to prevent them from testifying in an upcoming trial. Neither officer was ever in direct danger during the investigation and Copson was arrested before he could carry out his plan, a release stated.

Taylor said that Copson was charged with attempt to commit murder and conspiracy to commit murder, both first-degree crimes. Persons convicted of these crimes may be incarcerated in the state prison between 10 and 20 years.

According to the N.J. Department of Corrections, Copson was incarcerated in state prison from Sept. 24, 1997 to Oct. 5, 1999 on unlisted charges and then from Jan. 22 to April 9, 2000 for violating parole and receiving stolen property. He was released from South Woods State Prison, located in Bridgeton, Cumberland County.

Evangelista commended the cooperative effort between the members of the Prosecutor’s Office and his department. He indicated that this investigation demonstrates the close working relationship between the two agencies, which ultimately lead to the successful resolution of this dangerous situation.

Click here for Copson’s N.J. Department of Corrections profile.

Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com