Cop's nose broken, 2 security guards injured in N.J. mall melee

October 23, 2017
By Caitlin Mota
The Jersey Journal

JERSEY CITY - A cop was headbutted in the face and two security guards were injured in a melee at Newport Mall on Saturday night, authorities said.

Two teens were arrested in the 8:30 p.m. incident at the shopping center infamously known for a 2016 melee between the mall's Easter bunny and a parent, according to a police report.

A group of six to 10 teens was sitting in the center of the mall near Panera when a police officer and security guard told the group to leave the building. One teen began acting "irate" toward the officer, who then tried placing him under arrest, the report states.

But when the officer tried to handcuff the teen, Dominic McFarland and Marvin Hanson, both 18, jumped between the cop and the suspect to prevent the teen from being arrested. The teen was able to flee on foot and was not apprehended, police said.

An off-duty police officer witnessed the struggle and assisted in the incident, the report indicates. McFarland and Hanson both allegedly resisted arrest and the off-duty officer used another cop's baton to help handcuff Hanson, authorities said.

Hanson, of Newark, headbutted one of the backup officers as he placed him into the police car and broke his nose in two places, according to the report. He allegedly told police he is only 17 years old, but the teen's mother confirmed to police he is actually 18.

Two mall security officers were also injured during the melee. One suffered a sprained finger and the other a sprained ankle, police said.

McFarland, of New York, was released from custody with a court date and Hanson was brought to the Hudson County jail in Kearny.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.

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