Belleville Police Pepper Spray ‘Belligerent’ Man In Arrest: PD

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Belleville authorities charged a Passaic man with six counts of aggravated assault on police after he allegedly tried to bite and strike officers during an arrest at Union and Division avenues last week.

According to the Belleville Police Department, officers were eventually forced to pepper spray Kevin Norman, 24, of Passaic, in an attempt to subdue him.

The encounter began around 9:33 p.m. on Sept. 5, when officers responded to a report of a man who was allegedly wandering in and out of traffic and creating a hazard. On arrival, the officers found a man who fit the description, later identified as Norman.

Norman was yelling in a “disorderly manner” and was putting small liquor bottles in his pants when officers found him. When they attempted to speak to Norman, he allegedly became “very belligerent and aggressive,” police said.

The officers placed Norman under custody, but he broke free while being escorted to a police vehicle and tried to run away, authorities stated.

When the officers attempted to apprehend Norman again, he allegedly began to spit at them and tried to bite them and strike them with his head and feet. At that time, the officers pepper sprayed him and took him into custody. Norman was later treated for exposure to the spray at police headquarters, authorities said.

Police charged Norman with six counts of aggravated assault on police, criminal mischief, obstruction and resisting arrest. He also had four outstanding warrants from other towns totaling $2,465, authorities said.

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