Jersey City Woman Attempted To Burn Hoboken Police Officer, Police say

HOBOKEN, NJ — A Jersey City woman was charged with aggravated assault of police officer on Thursday after she "ignited the lighter in an attempt to burn" an officer, the Hoboken police said.

Police said that around 2 a.m. on Feb. 16, they responded to Willow Avenue and Second Street on a report of a "distraught female wielding a knife."

Officers Nicholas Protopapadakis and Aaron Font found Ricksondia Blevins, 48, of Jersey City at the location, police said.

She "appeared to be holding a weapon," police said, and refused to drop it when police asked.

It turned out to be sticks, not a knife, police said.

Police said, "Blevins was also holding a propane powered cigar lighter. Blevins continued to ignore police while walking in the middle of the street. Blevins was arrested, and while officers were trying to safely place her in handcuffs, she ignited the lighter in an attempt to burn Officer Protopapadakis."

Police charged her with aggravated assault of a police officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, weapons possession, and resisting arrest.

Blevins was taken to the Hudson County Correctional Facility, police said. No officers were
injured during the incident, they said.