Gym Members Intervene After Man Tries To Take Officer's Gun In Hoboken, Police Say

HOBOKEN, NJ — The Hoboken police were involved in two scuffles during arrests this month, resulting in charges for two men, police said.

On Thursday, July 13, according to police, at approximately 4:30 p.m., police responded to the homeless shelter at 300 Bloomfield St. on a report of a man with a knife who refused to leave.

Sgt. Francis McCourt and Police Officers Samuel Flores, Christopher Barral, Ramon Estrella, Anthony Hochstadter, Dominick Allegretta, Anthony Azzoline, and Harry Montalvo responded.

Officers were able to coax the man out of the shelter, then saw a knife sticking out of his pocket, police said.

Jesus Ortega, 29, from California, attempted to resist arrest and a struggle ensued, police said.

Three officers received minor injuries, police said.

A search revealed an ID card, an insurance card, and a debit card, all of which did not belong to Ortega, police said.

Ortega was charged with aggravated assault, possession of weapons for unlawful purposes, making terroristic threats, resisting arrest, unlawful use of a weapons, and disorderly conduct, police said.

He transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny.

Arrest At Gym

The next day, at approximately 9:05 a.m., police responded to CKO Gym on Madison Street, "on
the report of a disorderly man in the gym starting verbal arguments with gym members," police said.

When officers Frank Francolino and Geovanni Cruzado responded, gym employees directed the officers to 25-year-old Justin Morris of Hoboken, police said.

When officers blocked Morris from approaching a bystander, police said, Morris attempted to grab the handle of one of their guns, but the officer prevented that from happening.

"Gym members assisted officers in getting Morris under control," police said.

He was arrested, taken to Hoboken Police Headquarters, and issued a summons for disarming a law enforcement officer, police said. A city spokesperson said he was taken to Jersey City Medical Center after that.