Officer Cut By Man Trying To Escape Arrest In Union County, Police Say

GARWOOD NJ — A Garwood Police Officer is out of the hospital and recovering after being cut on the arm by a man who was trying to avoid being arrested.

Rachard Stevenson, 35 of Newark, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with bodily injury, resisting arrest, and shoplifting. He was taken to the Union County Jail where he is awaiting a court appearance.

On Sept. 4, police responded to the AutoZone store at 300 South Ave. for a report of theft.

When they arrived, the store manager told them the man had already left the store, and they began to set up a perimeter and search the surrounding area.

Officers were able to find a man in the 200 Block of South Avenue who matched the description given by the manager.

After trying to talk to him, Stevenson ran away, and the officers lost sight of him after he escaped through a small hole in the fence along the NJ Transit railway.

He was later found hiding in the parking lot at 75 North Ave and taken into custody.

Police were able to recover $450 worth of items that were taken from the Autozone.