Man Tries To Stab Union Cop With Broken Bottle In Carjacking: PD

UNION, NJ — A man who tried to stab a Union Township Police Officer with a broken bottle following a carjacking on Sunday in the Home Depot, Target and Whole Foods parking lot has been charged, police said.

Union Township Police said the incident happened shortly before 7 p.m., when a man later identified as Marcus Perkins, threatened a shopper in the store's parking lot. Perkins, who had a broken bottle in his hand, tried to take the car keys from the shopper, according to police.

As the victim drove away, Perkins of Lindewold ran up Springfield Avenue towards Maplewood. A Union Township police officer who was working security in the Target and Whole Foods parking lot saw Perkins and tried to stop him, Union Township Police Capt. Bob Perez said.

Perkins then tried to stab the officer with the broken bottle and ended up hitting the officer in the vest before he ran off, Perez said.

The shopper who Perkins tried to carjack had followed him to the Whole Foods lot while talking on the phone with police and left his vehicle running. Perkins tried to jump into the car to escape but was wrestled out of the car and onto the ground by police, Perez said.

While police were trying to handcuff Perkins, he tried to take another officer's gun from his holster, Perez said.

As a result two officers were injured and taken to a nearby hospital. They were later released.

Perkins was charged with two counts of carjacking, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, and unlawful possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose.

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