Naked gun: from the files of police squad
An allegedly naked man ran past police headquarters and allegedly tried to take three officers’ guns in an early morning scuffle late last month, according to a report from the Hoboken Police Department.
Kevin Franco, 22, of Elmhurst, N.Y. was arrested and charged with lewdness, disorderly conduct, and disarming a law enforcement officer, police said.
At around 6:21 a.m. on Friday, July 31, Franco was spotted allegedly chasing another individual past Hoboken Police Headquarters on Hudson Street, said police. Sergeants Corrado Allegretta and Steven Aguiar and Officer Nicholas Detrizio attempted to stop Franco and place him under arrest, according to the report.
A scuffle ensued in which Franco allegedly tried to take the officers’ guns from their holsters, according to police. He was subdued without further incident and transported to Hoboken University Medical Center for treatment, said police.
The report did not specify Franco’s motives or relationship to the man he was chasing. A press representative of the HPD declined to provide further information.
Once released from the hospital, Franco was placed in the Hudson County Correctional Facility on $11,000 bail, the report stated.
Swinging by the Club
Two weeks ago, Michael Melendez, 38, was arrested and charged with a suite of crimes including aggravated assault, police said. According to an account given to police by a witness, Melendez allegedly hit three parked cars before angrily exiting his vehicle in the vicinity of Seventh and Garden streets. After Melendez allegedly tried to attack a bicyclist, the witness called the police and yelled to him that officers were on their way.
This new information only enhanced Melendez’s ire, according to the witness. He allegedly began throwing garbage cans and, when the witness attempted to calm him down, retrieved a car security device known as The Club from his car, the report stated.
Melendez allegedly began to swing The Club widely in an attempt to strike the witness, although he never actually made contact, according to police.
When Officer Keith Rotondi arrived at the scene, police said, Melendez stopped flailing and sat down on the curb. According to the report, he appeared to be under the influence of medication and allegedly admitted to as much at the scene.
Melendez was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated in a school zone, unlawful possession of a weapon, aggravated assault, reckless driving, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, the report stated. He was later released to a responsible party.
Don’t block the cops
Nobody likes getting a ticket from the police, but few express their anger as directly as Jersey City resident Justin Stone allegedly did in an incident two weeks ago. According to a report from the Hoboken Police Department, Stone, 29, allegedly blocked the police car that had pulled him over so it could not leave the scene.
Stopped in the vicinity of Paterson Avenue and Harrison Street on the evening of Aug. 4, Stone was initially cited for an expired vehicle registration, the report stated. He allegedly became confrontational soon after, refusing to move his vehicle from in front of the squad car driven by Officer Armando Caraballo, police said.
When Caraballo reversed his vehicle and attempted to resume patrolling, Stone allegedly repeatedly backed up to continue blocking the squad car, according to report.
After numerous warnings to cease his actions, Stone was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct, the report stated. He was subsequently released on a summons for a future court date.
UC man accused of groping, sending sexual texts to victim
A Union City man was charged with criminal sexual contact and harassment after he allegedly touched a female victim inappropriately on the breast and inner thigh area at a nail salon, according to a report from the Hoboken Police Department.
Armando Romero-Padilla, 35, was processed and released on $2,000 bail, police said.
The alleged incident took place this past Tuesday afternoon at the salon, according to the report. Police Officer Michael Aviles made the subsequent arrest, and Romero-Padilla did not resist, the report stated.
The victim does not appear to have been targeted at random. According to the police report, Romero-Padilla allegedly sent sexually orientated text messages to the victim over the course of a one-year period.