Police Beat

Compiled by Timothy J. Carroll 10/25/09

Alleged Squeegee attack

A taxi driver was arrested after he allegedly wielded a squeegee as a weapon during a confrontation with another driver.
On Sunday, Oct. 18, police responded to the taxi stand at the foot of Hudson Street on report of a fight between two drivers.
Officers arrived at 9:15 a.m. and placed Manuel Nin, 68, Union City, under arrest for aggravated assault and possession of a weapon, upon the recommendation of a superior officer already on the scene.
The other driver told police that a heated argument turned physical and Nin, who was holding a 24 inch squeegee in his hand, allegedly struck him in the left wrist, according to Det. Sgt. Sam Williams. He said police did not know what the basis of the argument was.

Did you order a sign?

Three men were arrested after they were allegedly found driving a stolen delivery vehicle from the Coach House Diner in North Bergen, police said.
Police responded to a noise complaint in the Hoboken Housing Authority on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 2:27 a.m. They found a group of Housing Authority residents sitting outside of 501 Marshall Drive and questioned them about the noise.
They told police that it was not them making the noise, but rather a group of men who were driving a red Toyota in the area, Williams said.
According to the witnesses, three men had pulled up in the car screaming and yelling, and tossed a Coach House Diner delivery sign out of the window.
Police found three men in red Toyota driving south on Harrison Street, then observed the car pulling into a parking lot along Marshall Drive.
Police approached the car to question the individuals and asked the driver, Omar Lopez, 33, Hoboken, to produce his license, registration, and insurance.
Police said Lopez told them, “I don’t have any paperwork for the vehicle.” When asked who owned it, Lopez said, “It’s my man’s [car],” but could not produce a name.
Officers also reported the smell of alcohol in the car, Williams said.
Police were able to track down the owner of the car, who was not yet aware that it had been stolen, and it was confirmed to be a delivery vehicle for the Coach House Diner.
Lopez and the two passengers – Rene Rivera, 33, Jersey City, and Adam Santiago, 18, North Bergen – were arrested for allegedly receiving stolen property. Lopez was also charged with driving while intoxicated and both he and Rivera had outstanding warrants, police said.

Col. Mustard, lead pipe, Willow Avenue

A man was threatened with a lead pipe while driving on Willow Avenue, police said.
The victim told police that he came to a traffic light at Willow Avenue and 11th Street on Monday, Oct. 19 at 4:40 p.m. and a 2006 Nissan Sentra pulled up beside him.
The victim said the other driver began shouting obscenities at him, then allegedly brandished a lead pipe and said, “I’m going to [expletive] you up.”
The victim immediately called 911, and the other car took off. However, the victim got the license plate number.
Police said they issued a criminal complaint to the owner of the car, a Union, N.J. resident, for allegedly making terroristic threats.

Don’t bite the hand that cuffs you

A man was arrested for aggravated assault after allegedly biting the hand of a police officer trying to escort him from a local tavern.
Just after midnight on Sunday, Oct. 18, officer responded to a bar on Newark and River streets where two men were refused entrance because they were allegedly “extremely intoxicated,” Williams said.
The two men were arguing with bar security, police said, and then refused to leave the scene when police arrived.
An officer attempted to escort the two men across the street, but one man allegedly became combative and refused to leave.
While trying to convince the two men to leave, the officer said he raised his hands in a gesture when one of the men, Adam Kerr, 23, of Marlboro, allegedly thrust his head forward and bit one of the officers’ fingers.
The officer was wearing gloves, so the bite did not puncture the skin, but Kerr was placed under arrest for aggravated assault on a police officer.
Police said Kerr allegedly violently resisted the arrest and was forced to the ground to be placed in handcuffs. Williams said he continued to allegedly resist at headquarters and had to be placed in shackles. Kerr was further charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

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