Man Charged in Shooting of Off-Duty Officer

Bail has been set at $700,000 for a Newark man accused of shooting and wounding an off-duty police officer outside a northern New Jersey strip club earlier this month.

Union County prosecutors say Taquan Ward faces two counts of first-degree robbery and two weapons charges stemming from the Dec. 2 shooting in Elizabeth. If convicted, the 21-year-old could face more than 40 years in state prison.

Ward was arrested Friday without incident. It was not known Saturday if he's retained an attorney.

Authorities say the 32-year-old South Plainfield officer and two friends were leaving the club when Ward tried to rob them at gunpoint. The officer was shot multiple times and was hospitalized, but he's expected to fully recover.

No other injuries were reported in the shooting.

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