Newark Man Lunged At, Struck Aberdeen Officers, Cops Say

Aberdeen police arrested a Newark man who they say hit officers after he learned he was going to be arrested on an outstanding warrant.

Aberdeen police charged Sidney McDowell, 26, of Highland Avenue, Newark, with aggravated assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.

According to a news release from Chief John T. Powers:

Around 6:20 a.m. Saturday, police were called to an apartment in the Strathmore Gardens complex on South Atlantic Avenue by someone reporting a disorderly person.

When they arrived, they learned McDowell was wanted on a contempt warrant issued by Newark municipal court.

When police told him they were taking him into custody, he lunged at Officers Frank Maisano and Martin Walsh, and Sgt. David Mauro.

He hit them, and the officers used pepper spray to subdue him.

McDowell was taken into custody, then transported to police headquarters, where he was treated for the exposure to pepper spray.

Walsh suffered a cut to his head and was treated at Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel and released.

McDowell was sent to the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township. Bail on the Aberdeen charges was set at $20,000, in addition to the $5,000 bail on the Newark warrant.