Village Man Charged with Assaulting Ridgewood Cop

A 47-year-old Ridgewood man is sitting in a Hackensack jail cell on charges he assaulted a Ridgewood police officer on Saturday.

According to Ridgewood Police Cpt. Jacqueline Luthcke, just after 6 a.m. on Aug. 18 police were dispatched to a Wall Street residence on report that Juan Cuevas had violated a court order barring him from being at the home.

"At the scene he [Cuevas] prevented an officer from making an arrest by using physical force against the officer," Luthcke said. "Specifically, he was pulling, twisting and moving his arms and shoulders to avoid being handcuffed by the officers."

Later, at police headquarters, as Ptl. Shane Broglia was attempting to remove the handcuffs, Cuevas was "grabbing the officer's hand and twisting it, causing visible red marks," Luthcke said.

Broglia did not report injury and was able to finish her shift, Luthcke said.

Cuevas remains in jail in lieu of $25,000 with no 10 percent option. He was charged with violating a court order; aggravated assault on a police officer, a 3rd degree crime; and resisting arrest.

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