Bergen County Man Charged with Eluding Mahwah Police, Aggravated Assault of Officer

A Bergen County man was arrested in Nutley after allegedly driving off with a police officer holding onto his vehicle after being confronted by Mahwah Police on Route 17.

Mahwah Police Detectives were conducting an investigation regarding suspicious activity in the parking lot of the State Line Diner on Route 17 North on Dec. 16 when they approached a 2007 Jeep Wrangler occupied by Kenneth Tortora, 45, of Old Tappan, Mahwah Police Chief James N. Batelli said.

Mahwah Detective Hebert asked Tortora to exit the vehicle but Tortora allegedly refused and started to put the car in gear and began to drive out of the parking lot while being verbally advised to turn the ignition off and exit his vehicle.

Mahwah Detective Lieutenant Guido Bussinelli and Detective Eric Larsen tried to enter the passenger side of the vehicle but found the door to be locked, Cheif Batelli said. “Detective Hebert continued to try to enter the vehicle but as the vehicle accelerated he reached inside and grabbed ... Tortola all the while yelling at for him to stop.”

But Tortora continued to drive out of the parking lot with Detective Hebert still holding onto to him and ran over a curb heading onto Island Road North to avoid hitting a vehicle pulling into the lot.

“Detective Hebert was dragged approximately 60 feet before he lost hold of ... Tortola, resulting in minor injury to Hebert’s left forearm,” Chief Batelli said.

Tortola then left the scene as he turned off all the lights on his vehicle and accelerated on Island Road.

Different jurisdictions where Tortola was known to frequent were contacted in an attempt to locate him and he was subsequently arrested by the Nutley Police during a motor vehicle stop after leaving his girlfriend’s residence, according to Chief Batelli.

Tortola is charged with aggravated assault against a police officer, eluding, hindering apprehension and criminal mischief.

Bergen County Superior Court Judge Liliana Silebi set bail at $350,000 with no 10 percent option.

Tortora received his first appearance on Dec. 17 by Mahwah Municipal Court Judge Anthony Gianni and is in the Mahwah jail awaiting transportation to Bergen County Jail In Hackensack.