Morristown Man Injured In Scuffle With State Police On 287

HARDING, NJ — A 32-year-old Morristown man got into an altercation Tuesday night with New Jersey state troopers while he was walking on the side of Rt. 287, after police stopped him because he was walking on the highway and also had marijuana, they said.

Other drivers called 911 to report a man walking on the side of the interstate at 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5. State Police responded and said they located Michael Gamboa Valverde, 32, of Morristown walking on the southbound shoulder near mile marker 33 and that when they stopped to talk to him, he smelled of marijuana.

Police said they found marijuana on him and when they tried to arrest him, Valverde became combative and resisted arrest. He sustained a head wound trying to escape police custody, Lt. Brian Polite of the NJ State Police told the Daily Record.

He was taken to Morristown Medical Center for treatment where he was listed in fair condition Thursday, the Daily Record reported. Valverde was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, resisting arrest and obstruction.

Image via Morguefile