By: Richard L. Smith
In a tense encounter earlier Friday afternoon in Newark's South Ward, several police officers sustained injuries during an operation.
Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé reported that at around 3:17 p.m., officers on patrol near Bergen Street and Hawthorne Avenue noticed a man with an ATV parked on the sidewalk.
Officials said the situation escalated when the man, in an attempt to prevent the officers from seizing the vehicle, fled the scene and crashed into a parked vehicle.
Following the crash, the suspect was taken into custody and was discovered to be in possession of a weapon.
Three officers involved in the operation suffered minor injuries in the process of trying to seize the ATV. They were promptly transported to University Hospital for treatment and are currently reported to be in stable condition.
The incident highlights the risks law enforcement officers face daily while maintaining public safety in the community.