Alfredo Mendez, 19, and a 15year-old juvenile, both of Roselle Park were arrested on July 10 at 6:27 a.m. during the course of a missing persons investigation.
While searching for a 15-year old juvenile reported missing by his sister, officers went to West Westfield Avenue to speak to the juvenile’s friend, Alfredo Mendez. Mendez initially denied knowing the missing person. Police then spotted the juvenile running eastbound down the street.
Patrolmen Richard Hernandez, Jr. went to speak to the juvenile, who was agitated and argumentative. Without provocation the juvenile punched Hernandez in the face with a closed fist. A struggle ensued, with the juvenile spitting at police as they subdued and arrested him.
The juvenile was charged with resisting arrest, aggravated assault on a police officer and throwing bodily fluids at a police officer.
Mendez admitted to attempting to conceal the whereabouts of the juvenile from police and was subsequently arrested for obstruction.
The arrests were made by Patrolmen Hernandez and Nicholas Vaughan. Hernandez was treated for a fractured nose at Union Hospital and released.