Montclair Police Officer Injured While Arresting 'Combative' Suspect

Montclair police wrestled a “combative” suspect to the ground during an arrest after he took a swing at an officer during a verbal dispute on Orange Road on April 29.

The incident began when officers responded to the scene of a verbal argument between Maurice Jenkins, 28, of East Orange, and an unnamed person.

When officers arrived on the scene and tried to speak to Jenkins, he became “very belligerent” and wouldn’t obey officers’ commands, Detective Lt. David O’Dowd told Patch.

During the incident, officers discovered that Jenkins had an existing warrant out of Newark for $5,000. Officers subsequently attempted to arrest him, at which point Jenkins became physically combative and tried to strike them with his fists.

Police were forced to wrestle Jenkins to the ground, and during the process an officer injured his hand, reported O’Dowd.

The injured officer was taken to the hospital for treatment.

According to O’Dowd, Jenkins sustained a “scratch on his hand,” but refused medical treatment.

Jenkins was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and aggravated assault on police, in addition to his Newark warrant.