Man Who Kicked Hoboken Woman Is Sought After Missing Court: Cops

HOBOKEN, NJ — A man arrested last month for randomly kicking a Hoboken woman to the ground while she was walking with her toddler is back on the streets, and there's a new warrant for his arrest, authorities said.

Yamel Acosta, 48, of Union City, was charged on Dec. 20 with simple assault, Hoboken police said.

Police said Acosta kicked the woman in the buttocks and knocked her down as she was walking with her toddler along the 300 block of Garden Street about 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 20. She declined medical attention at the scene, police said.

Police found Acosta nearby and arrested him, and he was released on a summons with the simple assault charge, police said.

Acosta was scheduled to be in court on Friday but failed to show up, Hoboken spokeswoman Marilyn Baer said. An arrest warrant has been issued.

"The Hoboken Police Department is actively attempting to locate him and place him under arrest," she said. She declined to give further information.

In December, Hoboken public safety spokeswoman Marci Rubin said the police department and Jersey City Medical Center's Mobile Crisis Outreach Response Team were working to "provide Acosta with the appropriate resources." She did not elaborate.