Nab suspect in Hoboken Sunday attack
Thursday, August 23, 2007
By CHARLES HACK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

HOBOKEN - Police have arrested a homeless man who is suspected of clubbing a man in the head with a 3-foot pipe Sunday afternoon.

Antonio Figueroa, 47, who gave an address on Hudson Street but according to police has no fixed address, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes.

Police Officer Nicholas Burke spotted Figueroa and took him into the police station for questioning at 11:20 a.m. Tuesday, reports said.

On Sunday, when police arrived at the scene, at Washington and First streets, at around 5:30 p.m., they found a crowd surrounding a man who was lying on his stomach with blood pouring from his head, reports said.

Witnesses told them that after a verbal dispute, they saw Figueroa crack the victim on the back of the head with a pipe and then flee, reports said.

The victim, who was in a critical condition when taken to Jersey City Medical Center for treatment for head trauma, was in a stable condition yesterday.


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Another homeless man -- 'Lewd, disorderly' in Hoboken
Thursday, August 23, 2007

HOBOKEN - A homeless man who chased cars while exposing himself was arrested Tuesday evening, police reports said.

John Lotito, 44, who gave his address as a shelter on Bloomfield Street, was charged with lewdness and disorderly conduct, reports said.

Police, dispatched to Third and Bloomfield streets at 7:45 p.m., found Lotito running after a vehicle with his pants down, baring all, police said.

People scattered as Lotito yelled and swung his hands, and he then shouted "Sorry!" in the arresting officer's face, police said.

CHARLES HACK

ouch!

Hoboken: Man clubbed in back of the head with a pipe by homeless man

Tuesday, August 21, 2007
By CHARLES HACK and KEENAN STEINER
JOURNAL STAFF WRITERS

Responding to reports of an assault, police arrived at Washington and First streets around 5:30 p.m. to find a crowd surrounding a heavyset male who was lying on his stomach with blood pouring from his head, reports said.

A witness reported seeing the victim following a 6-foot man with short grayish hair wearing blue jeans and a black shirt just before the assault, police said.

After a verbal dispute, other witnesses reported seeing the man crack the victim on the back of the head with a pipe, police said. The suspect then fled the scene and headed west on Observer Highway, reports said.

Witnesses who know both men say the attacker is homeless, according to reports.

The victim was treated for head trauma at the Jersey City Medical Center and was in critical condition Sunday; yesterday, he was conscious and alert in the Intensive Care Unit, police said.