SHARE

Clifton Police Officer Punched In Bar Brawl, Other Nearly Run Down In Chase

CLIFTON, N.J. -- One Clifton police officer was punched in the face and another had to jump out of the path of a speeding car in separate weekend incidents with resisting suspects, authorities said Monday.

Ronald Garcia

Ronald Garcia

Photo Credit: MUGSHOT: Clifton PD

Passaic police joined their Clifton colleagues in breaking up a brawl at J Aldo's Bar on Highland Avenue -- with some combatants throwing bottles in the street -- around 12:30 a.m., Detective Lt. Robert Bracken said.

Officers recovered a knife, then tried taking the suspected owner, 23-year-old Wilmer Alvarado-Rodriguez of Clifton, into custody, Bracken said.

Alvarado-Rodriguez "became irate and punched one the of the officers," the lieutenant said. "A struggle ensued, during which Alvarado-Rodriguez continued to resist arrest."

He was eventually subdued, arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and weapons possession.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Officers Thomas Sucameli and Nigel Gough stopped a speeding vehicle on westbound Route 3 near the Garden State Parkway ramp.

The officers got out of their cruiser -- and 23-year-old Ronald Garcia floored the gas, nearly hitting Sucameli, who jumped out of the way, Bracken said.

The pursuit resumed onto westbound Route 46 through Little Falls, Totowa and then Wayne before the officers dropped back "due to the erratic manner" and high speed the car was driven in, he said.

Based on the the registration, officers went to Garcia's Woodland Park with local police and found him there, Bracken said.

Garcia ran back inside and tried dashing to the second floor but was tackled, he said.

He continued to fight and was finally subdued after a lengthy struggle, the lieutenant said.

Garcia was charged with assault by auto, resisting arrest, eluding and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

to follow Daily Voice Cliffside Park-Edgewater and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE