A borough man was charged with breaking into a woman's apartment, throwing a knife at her and punching a police officer in the face, authorities said Wednesday.
Michael Stellato, 31 (Photo: Lodi Police Department)
The woman came home Tuesday night and found 31-year-old Michael Stellato "sitting on her couch holding a knife in a threatening manner," Lt. Robert Salerno said in a news release.
The two argued before Stellato hurled the knife at her, Salerno added. She was not hurt.
Responding officers found Stellato sitting outside the building on Union Street, police said. Stellato started walking toward an officer and ignored orders to take his hands out of his pockets.
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The officer also spotted a knife in Stellato's pocket, according to police.
"At this point, [the officer] began to struggle with the suspect in order to disarm him," Salerno said in the release. "During this confrontation, the officer was punched in the face by the suspect."
Police said Stellato was previously told not be at the apartment. He was charged with aggravated assault, burglary, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, resisting arrest and criminal trespassing.
Stellato remained held at the Bergen County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to jail records.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook
