A former Bayonne City Hall employee and zoning official was charged with striking an off-duty police officer with his vehicle twice on Friday, authorities said. 
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Michael Mulcahy, 46, of Bayonne, was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon (his car), possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, obstructing a governmental function and harassment, according to police Lt. Robert Wizbicki.
On Friday May 5th around 6:12 p.m., Mulcahy got into an altercation with off-duty Det. Roman Popowski after being spotted taking pictures of his civilian vehicle outside of Judicke’s Bakery, near the intersection of 34th Street and Broadway, officials said.
While the police report does not indicate why Mulcahy was taking pictures, the two proceeded to argue over a property Popowski owns and whether or not it was being built to code, authorities said.
Claiming he felt harassed at that point, Popowski called for a marked police car and a supervisor. Although he told Mulcahy not to move, he allegedly got back in his car and struck the officer’s right knee and lower leg as he drove in reverse.
Popowski shouted that he had been hit, imploring Mulcahy to stop, but he was hit again in the same fashion as Mulcahy pulled out of the spot and drove away, police said.
Authorities then broadcast a description of Mulcahy’s vehicle and he was spotted and arrested a short time later near the intersection of 26th Street and Avenue C.
Popowski was taken to the Bayonne Medical Center where he was treated and released.
Mulcahy, a former employee of the city Department of Municipal Services, appeared poised to get his job back in November after an administrative law judge ruled that he and two other laid off employees should be rehired.
However, in January, the state Civil Service Commission disagreed with the judge and upheld the city’s decision to make the layoffs.
