Police: Hoboken man, 43, charged with threatening bus driver with a hammer

A 43-year-old Hoboken man was charged last week with threatening a bus driver with a hammer on Wednesday afternoon, according to public safety spokeswoman Marci Rubin.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

On March 12th at approximately 4:25 p.m., Police Officers Leroy Sherrill and Dylan Archilla responded to the 100 block of Clinton Street on reports of a person threatening a bus driver with a hammer.

The bus, and the actor, were no longer on the scene when officers arrived.

An on-scene investigation revealed a man, later identified as Matthew Seriale, 43, of Hoboken, was double parked on Clinton Street between First and Second Streets.

When an NJ Transit bus tried to pass his vehicle, he grabbed a hammer from his car, walked toward the front door of the bus, and waved the hammer at the bus driver while threatening to strike the driver in the head with the hammer.

Seriale was quickly identified as the aggressor and he was charged on a warrant with making terroristic threats, aggravated assault on a motorbus driver, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and certain persons not to possess a weapon.

On March 13th, Sgt. Det. William Collins and Dets. Connor Milne and Fabian Quinones confirmed the warrant and arrested Seriale.

During a search incident to arrest, detectives located two small plastic bags tied off in a knot, containing a white rock-like substance suspected to be controlled dangerous substance (CDS) crack cocaine.

Seriale was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters where he was additionally charged with possession of CDS. He was processed on all charges and ultimately transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.