Naked Man Charged With Assault As Police Remove Him From Bergen County Street

NEW MILFORD, NJ — Police responding to calls about a naked man in the middle of a Bergen County street wound up charging the man with assaulting a police officer on Saturday, they said.

Francis T. Panza, 38, of New Milford was charged three counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and other charges, said a police spokesman.

Police said they received several calls on Saturday at 12:44 a.m. reporting a naked man walking on River Road near Linden Place.

When police arrived, they saw Panza "lying in the middle of the road with no clothes on, and appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance," police said.

Lt. Brian Carlino, Officer Robert Sokol, Officer Kyle Hill, and Officer Paige Schmelz attempted to convince him to get out of the road and move to the sidewalk, to no avail, police said.

Panza eventually got to his knees and then stood up.

But then he began "yelling, became belligerent, hostile, and took a fighting stance," police said.

Francis struck Officer Hill, police said. They took him into custody after a scuffle, they said.

Responders from Holy Name Hospital arrived to take Francis to the hospital, but he was kicking and screaming, police said. Hospital workers tried to sedate him, but he kicked Officer Schmelz and spat blood at a medic's face, police say.

He was eventually sedated and taken to the hospital.

He was charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, a count of aggravated assault on a first aid worker, fourth-degree lewdness, and a disorderly person offense, police said.

He was released on his own recognizance to await a court date, police said.