Man Tried To Stab Bloomfield Crossing Guard With Pen: Police

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield police arrested an East Orange resident on Thursday after he allegedly tried to stab a crossing guard with a pen, authorities say.

According to the Bloomfield Police Department, officers responded to the intersection of Glenwood and Llewellyn Avenues around 8:30 a.m. after getting a report about a crossing guard being assaulted.

Multiple witnesses told the officers that a man later identified as Demitrius Childs, 32, assaulted a crossing guard while she was at her post and attempted to stab her with a pen. The bystanders came to her aid and called 9-1-1, police said.

Childs then fled the scene on foot towards Watsessing Park. When police found him on Glenwood Avenue, Childs allegedly resisted commands to comply, resisted arrest and tried to disarm one of the officers, authorities said.

Officers arrested Childs and transported him to police headquarters, where he was charged with aggravated assault and resisting arrest/eluding. He was later transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark.

An officer was injured during the incident and transported to Mountainside Hospital for treatment, police said.

Police Chief George Ricci commended the witnesses at the scene, who prevented the guard from being injured and provided officers with “accurate and detailed information of the suspect.”

Ricci also commended the involved officers for their “quick response.”

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