A Secaucus woman has been charged with kicking a cop in the groin during her arrest after police responded to her home following an 911 call that ended abruptly, state authorities said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Margaret O’Leary, 20, of Secaucus, was charged with four counts of aggravated assault on a police officer (3rd degree), two counts of throwing bodily fluids (4th degree), resisting arrest (3rd degree), and disorderly persons offenses, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and state Police Superintendent Col. Pat Callahan said in a joint statement.
Secaucus police responded to O’Leary’s home after a 911 marked by screaming in the background abruptly hung up. Upon arriving at her residence, Secaucus police encountered “an irate and combative O’Leary,” officials said.
She allegedly approached a police officer and pulled at his vest before kicking him in the groin. When an ambulance arrived, O’Leary refused medical attention, police said.
At police headquarters, O’Leary reportedly became combative again. As police tried to transport her to an ambulance, she allegedly removed a spit guard and spit at an officer.
Once in the ambulance, O’Leary allegedly removed another spit guard and spit at another officer. In addition to the other charges, O’Leary was charged with refusing to be fingerprinted, a disorderly persons offense, officials said.
“We’re cracking down on those who jeopardize public health and undermine public safety,” Grewal said.
“Those who choose to ignore the law and selfishly place others at risk will face swift law enforcement action,” added Callahan.
In an unrelated incident, Sergio Moya Jr., 27, of Jersey City, was charged by the Port Authority Police Department on the evening of May 8th with resisting arrest (disorderly persons offense), disorderly conduct (petty disorderly persons offense), and violating the emergency orders.
Moya allegedly harassed ticket agents at Newark Airport and refused to leave.
Violation of the emergency orders is a disorderly persons offense carrying a sentence of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Such violations are charged by summons, without arrest.
Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
