By Karen Zautyk |
Police are investigating a brazen and brutal — and seemingly unprovoked — broad-daylight assault on a local teenager who was beaten into unconsciousness on Kearny Ave. last week.
The 16-year-old was set upon at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, near the intersection of Kearny and Wilson Aves. Police Chief John Dowie said the victim, reportedly a student at Kearny High School, was “tag-teamed” by two men, aged 20 and 23, both from Newark.
When Officers Frank West and Rich Pawloski arrived at the scene, the attackers fled south on Kearny Ave. on foot.
A “fight-and-flight“ alert was sent out over the police radio, Dowie said, and while Capt. Scott Macfie and Officer Steve Podoloski attended to the unconscious victim, West and Pawloski pursued the suspects.
Pawloski caught the 23-year-old on the avenue. When apprehended, police said, the man was shirtless and had blood on his arm, but he denied any knowledge of the beating. He was held at the scene and a records check revealed he had an outstanding $1,000 warrant out of Newark. He was arrested on the warrant and was later reportedly identified by witnesses as one of the assailants.
The 20-year-old was also apprehended by the officers and identified by a witness, Dowie said.
Both suspects were charged with aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. Bail was set at $50,000 apiece, and they were remanded to the Hudson County Jail.
The victim was taken to Clara Maass Medical Center for treatment of head injuries.
The reason for the attack is under investigation.
In other KPD news, the Vice Squad scored a “hat trick” on Friday, May 6, apprehending three drug suspects in three separate arrests over a span of 6 1/2 hours.
At 5 p.m., the detectives stopped a Jeep on Bennett Ave. off Kearny Ave. and arrested the driver, a 24-year-old Randolph man, for alleged possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia,
At 8 p.m., a 21-year-old Kearny resident, who had been under surveillance for apparent drug dealing, was confronted by the detectives as he was walking on Stewart Ave., east of Kearny Ave., Dowie reported.
The man was allegedly found to be in possession of 14 ziplock bags containing suspected marijuana. He was charged with distribution of marijuana, distribution within 1,000 feet of a school and within 500 feet of a playground and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The last bust of the day came at 11:30 p.m. as the result of “an ongoing investigation into drug distribution within the town,” Dowie said. The police “had a vehicle description,” the chief noted, and found the car in question double-parked on Highland Ave. near Rose St.
As the detectives approached the car, they reportedly saw the female driver drop a ziplock on the floor and attempt to conceal it with her foot. Also inside the vehicle, Dowie said, were a larger bag containing suspected cocaine and a scale, along with more ziplocks.
The woman, a 39-year-old Newark resident, was arrested on charges of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school and 500 feet of a playground and possession of paraphernalia with intent to distribute.
Finally, on Friday the 13th at 5 p.m., Officer Mike Andrews observed an out-of-place vehicle on Fish House Road, and found it occupied by a 25-year-old Kearny man. A check of the plates showed they did not belong to that vehicle, and the man was found to be in possession of three wax folds of heroin stamped “Danger” and “King Ivory,” police said. The vehicle was impounded and the driver was charged with possession of heroin and paraphernalia, and possession of a CDS in a motor vehicle.
