A Fairview man charged with knocking a man out and fracturing his facial bones before challenging a Hoboken police officer to a fight made his first court appearance on the charges yesterday.
A Fairview man and two other Bergen County residents have been charged with assaulting police officer in Hoboken, authorities said.
Garrett J. Lopez, 25, of Fairview man allegedly knocked a man out, fracturing his facial bones before challenging a Hoboken police officer to a fight, according to a criminal complaint.
Two friends, Louis and Alyssa Lago, both of Rochelle Park, then went after police officers who were attempting to arrest Lopez, the complaint said. Lopez made his first court appearance on the charges yesterday in Jersey City.
On Nov. 27, just after 2 a.m., Hoboken Police Officer Sam Williams was flagged down by a person saying a man had been punched and was unconscious in the area of 139 Washington St., Hoboken police said.
The officer responded and got medical attention for the victim before spotting Lopez, who fit the description of the puncher. Williams said Lopez admitted knocking out the man and then challenged the officer to a fight, police said.
Lopez fought with officers as they arrested him and during the scuffle, Lopez's friend, Louis Lago, 21, of Rochelle Park, allegedly took a swing at one of the cops, police said.
Also during the melee, Alyssa Lago, 26, of the same street in Rochelle Park, allegedly punched an officer in the face after he told her to step back, police said, adding that she yelled racial slurs at the officer during her arrest.
Lopez was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault on a police officer, endangering an injured victim by leaving him in a helpless condition and resisting arrest, police said. The criminal complaint says the man suffered facial fractures, a broken nose and a cut over his left eye.
Louis Lago was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and obstructing a government function. Alyssa Lago was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, police said.