Sparta man charged with a crime against off-duty police officer

Just after midnight on Mar. 18, someone made a call to 911 about a supposed fight at the Mohawk House Restaurant in Sparta, New Jersey. The parties involved had apparently been separated before on-duty police officers arrived on the scene. One of the individuals involved was a corporal of the township police department and the other was a 41-year-old Sparta resident, who was charged with a crime after an initial investigation.

About 30 minutes before the 911 phone call, the wife of the accused man supposedly approached the off-duty corporal at the restaurant to discuss police matters involving her and her husband. The New Jersey police officer was said to have refused and asked her to leave him in peace. She supposedly persisted in engaging the corporal in conversation. The discussion purportedly become heated, at which time the officer was said to have removed himself to a different part of the restaurant.

The husband and wife then left the restaurant, entered their car and left the parking lot. But police say the husband subsequently got out of his vehicle and reentered the restaurant. He reportedly approached the police officer, who was apparently sitting with some friends. Police say they have witnesses who claim the husband made verbal threats to the police officer and then slapped the cop in the face with his hand. He supposedly continued attempting to hit the police officer and was said to have been upset and drunk.

The Sparta resident was ultimately charged with aggravated assault of a police officer, simple assault of striking a patron, and other related offenses. Taken into custody, he was later released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in court in the coming month.

If found guilty of the alleged assault charges, the accused man could receive jail time, community service, fines, probation and even restitution for any damages caused. But first me has to be convicted, and often the facts concerning a fracas in a bar or restaurant tell only a small part of the story. This individual, as well as anyone else charged with a crime, is innocent of all allegations unless a court ultimately finds him guilty. The assault charges could eventually be dismissed completely if prosecutors determine there is not enough evidence to support the police allegations.

Source: Daily Record, “Man charged in assault of off-duty cop at eatery,” Mar. 26, 2012