A Newark man was arrested last night after he allegedly assaulted and officer and spit on another in Linden.
Last night at approximately 10:20 p.m. a Linden officer was on patrol when he observed a 2015 Ford Focus swerving and striking a curb while travelling on S. Park Ave.
The vehicle was pulled over and stopped at Brunswick Ave. and S. Park Ave. when the officer approached the lone occupant, Rahson O. Thorn, 42, of Newark.
Thorn told the officer that the Ford was a rental vehicle, and he was unable to produce any paperwork.
He then rolled up the window and refused to speak to the officer. When the officer opened up the door and asked Thorn to exit the vehicle, he began to struggle with the officer.
The officer called for assistance on his radio and a backup officer arrived on the scene and the three were now wrestling on the ground. The officers were able to handcuff Thorn but not before he struck the backup officer in the face twice with his hand, and the backup officer was forced to deploy his pepper spray to get compliance.
When a third officer arrived on the scene and assisted the handcuffed Thorn to the patrol car, Thorn spit at the officer striking him in the hand.
Thorn then complained of difficulty breathing and was taken to Trinitas Hospital where he was treated and released into police custody.
He is being charged with aggravated assault on police, throwing bodily fluids on police, resisting arrest, and obstruction.
He also received motor vehicle summonses for having a suspended driver license, careless driving, and having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Thorn is being held at the Linden municipal jail this morning pending the setting of bail.