Egg Harbor Twp., NJ, Police: Man in Road Punches Car, Resists Arrest, Injures Officer

Officials in Egg Harbor Township say a man from Philadelphia is now in jail after several interactions with police Thursday.

Just before 4:30 PM, officers with the Egg Harbor Township Police Department responded to Somers Point-Mays Landing Road in the area of the Scullville Fire Station #2 in reference to an incident where 25-year-old Hakim Coles of Philadelphia, "intentionally punched and damaged a motorist’s passenger side mirror as the driver attempted to avoid striking the male as he was walking in and out of the roadway."

Police say Coles refused to stop or speak with officers and disregarded their commands to stop and get out of the middle of the road.

As patrol officers attempted to de-escalate the situation and escort Coles out of the road, he took a fighting stance and engaged the officers. When additional de-escalation tactics failed, Officers had to resort to the use of force in order to remove Coles from the road and into police custody, all while he actively resisted arrest and their control.

Once in custody, Coles was taken to Shore Memorial Hospital for evaluation, however, he allegedly continued to be combative and proceeded to attempt to bite and spit on the officers and members of the hospital staff on multiple occasions.

Get our free mobile app

One officer suffered minor injuries. Terroristic threats were also made by Coles towards the officers.

Police say this encounter was the fourth of the day involving Coles, who had been stopped and spoken to previously by officers for similar behavior.

Coles was charged on a warrant with resisting arrest, aggravated assault on police with bodily fluids, criminal mischief, and obstruction.

He was later lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.