Resisting Arrest, N.J.S.A. 2c:29-2

Do you remember the 1980s movie License to Drive starring Corey Haim and Corey Feldman? One unforgettable scene occurred when Haim failed his driving test. Helen Hanft confronted Haim with the bad news. In addition to one choice expletive, Hanft warned Haim, “God giveth and the D.M.V. taketh away!” Recently, a woman at the Bayonne Motor Vehicle Commission allegedly lost her temper caused by the long lines. And it seems this is something anyone who has ever visited an M.V.C. ought to relate to. After all, who hasn’t felt the urge to express dissatisfaction with the M.V.C.? Nevertheless, most people choose resisting these impulses. It might be because most adults know government bureaucrats delight in shirking personal responsibility, scapegoating, and passing the buck. Read More

Swatting (False Reports to Law Enforcement Authorities), N.J.S.A. 2c:28-4

I blogged once before about Fictitious Police Report, when news outlets had reported a phony 911 call after a stop over a flat tire. I am blogging about it now because police recently charged a Trenton man with swatting for 17 alleged phony emergency calls. In particular, they claim he placed two in Florence and 15 in Hamilton. Additionally, authorities allege this spanned more than 12 months. For example, they claim it began in December 2017, and it has ended with his arrest in February 2019. Indeed, the cops claim this individual placed a bogus call about an attempted burglary in January 2019. But police arrived to discover a vacant building and no suspicious evidence. Another call that same day for the same address about a fire yielded the same result. Read More

Escape, N.J.S.A. 2c:29-5

Recently a teenager pleaded guilty for escaping with three other juvenile detainees from a facility in 2017. Indeed, the four adolescents overpowered an Atlantic County juvenile detention center corrections officer. Additionally, they injured the officer and stole his keys, per the news. Furthermore, they fled in his vehicle, sideswiped another vehicle, crashed into a residence, and fled on foot. Moreover, while on the run, they burglarized two homes. Consequently, this youth pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of first-degree attempted murder, burglary and escape. Accordingly, he will serve a total of 16 years, 11 of which are subject to parole ineligibility, per the news. Read More

Witness Tampering, N.J.S.A. 2c:28-5

Do you know the expression snitches get stitches? Contrary to street knowledge, however, New Jersey authorities want to combat witness tampering. Indeed, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) investigators recently charged a Deal police officer with witness tampering and other offenses. But MCPO did not elaborate on the accusations. Instead, the authorities claim the investigation is ongoing. Additionally, the defendant is a fourteen year veteran cop. But this credential did not curry favor with the charging authorities. Instead, the county cops charged the local cop with witness tampering, conspiracy to possess cocaine, and possession of marijuana. More specifically, the witness tampering complaint alleges conduct contrary to N.J.S.A. 2c:28-5a(1). To illustrate, this prohibits causing a witness to testify or inform falsely. Read More

Unsworn Falsification to Authorities, N.J.S.A. 2c:28-3

The New Jersey Attorney General recently announced the conviction of a cop and his wife based on fraudulent fund applications. Accordingly, an Ocean County jury convicted the pair for stealing about $187,000 by filing false Superstorm Sandy relief fund applications. Indeed, the state’s case included testimony and evidence that the pair filed fraudulent applications for: FEMA assistance, a low-interest SBA disaster-relief loan, and state grants under the Homeowner Resettlement Program (RSP), the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation Program (RREM), and the Sandy Homeowner and Renter Assistance Program (SHRAP) funded by the New Jersey Department of Human Services. Previously employed by the Hoboken Police Department, the jury convicted the cop and his his wife on charges of second-degree conspiracy, second-degree theft by deception, and six counts of fourth-degree unsworn falsification to authorities. Read More

Bribery in official matters, N.J.S.A. 2C:27-2

On June 26, 2018, a Grand Jury indicted a Corrections Officer (C.O.) with second, third, and fourth degree crimes. Accordingly, counts for second degree crimes allege conspiracy, official misconduct, bribery in official matters, and acceptance or receipt of unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior. Additionally, one count alleges third-degree possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute. Furthermore, the grand jury charged the C.O. with one count of fourth-degree distribution of marijuana, per the website of the New Jersey Attorney General.

Indeed, the State has alleged the C.O. conspired to smuggle contraband marijuana, tobacco, and oxycodone to inmates in exchange for money. Read More

Bail Jumping, N.J.S.A. 2c:29-7

Police in Hoboken, New Jersey, charged two suspects with bail jumping and other offenses, per nj dot com. It all began when the cops went looking for a suspect with warrants at a public housing building. During the investigation, the cops searched the grounds of the residential facility in Hudson County. Eventually, the cops saw the suspect open an apartment door on the fifth floor after a visitor knocked. Therefore, the cops approached. But the suspect allegedly tried to prevent them from entering. Consequently, the cops forcibly entered the unit. In addition to filing charges against the original suspect and the visitor for bail jumping, the cops also pressed charges for heroin possession and cocaine possession. Read More

Hindering Apprehension, N.J.S.A. 2c:29-3

Trenton cops charged a man who ran after they confronted him, and found 118 decks of alleged heroin on him. The cops claim they saw a drug transaction with this man as the seller. When they confronted him, however, they say he ran. Nevertheless, the cops caught him and found the alleged CDS and currency. Consequently, they charged him with hindering apprehension, heroin possession, heroin possession with intent to distribute, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstruction.

On an unrelated note, I had a unique experience while returning today from the Cumberland County Courthouse to my office. Traveling on Route 77, Read more

Resisting Arrest and the Rise of #Resist

#Resist

This morning seven activists deployed a 70-ft by 35-ft banner that reads “RESIST” above the White House. This was call for YOU. #ResistOften pic.twitter.com/CVbr9VNZBu

— Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) January 26, 2017

Have you noticed #resist on social media? Unless you live under a rock, the answer should be an emphatic yes! Its rise in popularity appears to be a result of the election of Donald Trump. For example, after his first Muslim ban, #Resist and #TheResistance appeared in over 2.5 million tweets Read more

Obstructing Administration of Law, N.J.S.A. 2c:29-1

Failure to open the door resulted in charges for obstructing administration of law, aggravated assault on a police officer, and resisting arrest for a Jersey City man, per the news.

It all started when State Department of Children and Families (DCF) workers went to an apartment. They went based on an alleged domestic disturbance involving the children, per the news. But the man did not answer the door, so DCF workers called the police.
Read more

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Category: Offenses Against Public Administration