Police: Officer Assaulted by Norwood Teen

A Fair Lawn police officer was assaulted Friday while trying to arrest a Norwood teen who was walking along Route 208, Sgt. Brian Metzler said.

The incident occurred after Officer Eric Eleshewich approached the shirtless teen, who was walking down the highway carrying a black bag, Metzler said.

"With [the teen's] age, he could possibly be a juvenile runaway. Or he could have committed a crime at any business or residence along Route 208 and was attempting to leave the area on foot," the detective sergeant said. "There are a number of possibilities that makes this person suspicious and is worthy of stopping and speaking with him."

Metzler said Eleshewich's suspicions were raised further when the teen said he was a Fair Lawn resident but provided an address that does not exist in town.

During a routine search performed before transporting the teen from the highway, Eleshewich found hypodermic needles in the teen's bag and attempted to make an arrest, Metzler said.

At that point, the teen struck the officer in the chest, knocking him off balance, and raced into the woods, Metzler said.

Officer Anthony Burgos found the teen a short time later, hiding in the bushes outside of a home on Fairclough Place, the detective sergeant said. He was identified as Bryan Tighe, 18, of Norwood, and charged with hindering apprehension, aggravated assault on a police officer and possession of hypodermic needles for no medical reason, Metzler said.

Tighe was taken to Bergen County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. 

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