Newark NJ Aggravated Assault SuspectA Newark NJ man was arrested after allegedly destroying the East Orange Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and assaulting police officers.

According to law enforcement, the 33-year-old suspect became agitated when the East Orange DMV closed early for the day. The suspect allegedly got into a scuffle with two Essex County sheriff’s officers at the scene.

Authorities indicated that the suspect punched one officer and tried to gouge another officer’s eye.

The police officers had approached the suspect in an attempt to calm him down. However, the suspect reportedly “pushed the officers away and assumed a combative fighting stance.”

The suspect was eventually subdued when several other police officers arrived at the scene and offered assistance.

The suspect was subsequently arrested and charged with a number of criminal offenses, including aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.

If the suspect is convicted of aggravated assault, he faces severe penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b), aggravated assault against a police officer can be classified as a second degree crime. A conviction for second degree aggravated assault could lead to a sentence of 5-10 years in New Jersey State Prison.

After being placed under arrest and processed, the suspect was taken to nearby University Hospital in Newark for a mental evaluation. Sometime later, the suspect was transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, NJ. The suspect was being held at the jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

To learn more about this case, access the NJ.com article entitled “Newark Man Accused of Trashing East Orange DMV, Attacking Cops.”