A Newark NJ police officer was injured after a suspect reportedly tried to leave the scene of a motor vehicle stop.
According to authorities, Newark police received a report of a suspicious vehicle parked in the area of 18th Street and 12th Avenue. A couple of police officers were dispatched to the scene, where they approached the suspect’s vehicle and instructed him to turn off the engine.
The officers also asked the driver to provide his license and registration. At that point, the suspect allegedly sped off.
While driving away, the suspect reportedly struck one of the officers with the car.
According to police, the suspect crashed the vehicle a short distance away. Police officers then apprehended the suspect.
The suspect, a 38-year-old man from Newark NJ, was later charged with a number of criminal offenses, including aggravated assault and resisting arrest. The suspect was also charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose because police allegedly found him in possession of an illegal weapon.
Additionally, the suspect was cited for several traffic violations.
Meanwhile, the officer was taken to nearby University Hospital, where he received medical treatment. Thankfully, the officer’s injuries were considered non-life-threatening.
If the suspect is convicted on the aggravated assault charges, he could be subject to severe penalties. That’s because N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b) classifies aggravated assault as a second degree felony when another person is injured while the offender eludes police. A conviction on second degree aggravated assault charges could result in a sentence of 5–10 years in New Jersey State Prison.
For more information about this case, read the NJ.com article entitled “Newark Officer Hurt After Being Struck by Fleeing Suspect’s Car, Police Say.”
