Belleville Police Shooting: Man Charged With Assault, Allegedly Had Knife

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Authorities charged a Belleville man with aggravated assault on Wednesday, one week after local police shot him during an encounter at a Joralemon Street home.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the shooting took place around 6 p.m. on Dec. 21, after Belleville police officers were asked to escort a resident to their home to retrieve personal property due to “an ongoing domestic dispute.”

However, when police and the resident arrived, they encountered Cesar Delgado, 30, of Belleville, who was allegedly in possession of a knife and a stick, prosecutors said.

During the incident, a Belleville police officer shot Delgado, prosecutors previously stated.

Delgado remains hospitalized in intensive care, prosecutors said.

• See related article: 1 Wounded In Police-Involved Shooting

On Wednesday, authorities charged Delgado with two counts of 2nd degree aggravated assault, two counts of 4rd degree unlawful possession of a weapon – the stick and the knife – two counts of 3rd degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, harassment and contempt.

Prosecutors didn’t state whether any Belleville police officers may face potential charges or disciplinary action as a result of the shooting, but said that the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Critical Incident Response Team is still investigating the police involved shooting “as per the Attorney General guidelines.”

Last week’s shooting bears some resemblance to an incident in 2013, when Belleville officers shot and killed an allegedly intoxicated Lake Street resident armed with knives during a domestic dispute.

According to authorities, the suspect - who police said appeared “intoxicated” - lunged at the officers with two knives. Three of the four officers fired their weapons, the prosecutor's office said.

• See related article: Knife-Wielding Man Shot Dead in Confrontation With Police