By: Tracie Carter
An activist and community leader was taken into custody today following an altercation that left a police officer injured.
Mr. Najee Coram, 28, was arrested near 25-27 Norfolk Street after he allegedly assaulted a Newark Police officer who was preparing to tow his vehicle due to expired registration.
According to reports, the incident began when the officer, who found a dark-colored 2021 Tesla reportedly belonging to Coram, informed him that he could not move the vehicle because the registration had expired.
Coram allegedly ignored the officer's instructions, jumped into the car, and struck her with the vehicle's window.
In his attempt to flee the scene, he also reportedly rolled over the officer's foot.
Coram was apprehended and charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, obstructing the administration of law or government function, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
He has been remanded to the Essex County Jail and will face a court date.
Coram, a Newark native, co-founded the Be-Bold afterschool program, where he advised, tutored, and trained teens and younger children to stay positive and avoid the harsh realities of street life.