Police say that a Newark man reached for a baseball bat after being pulled over for violating motor vehicle laws while driving drunk with his young daughter in his car.

According to a police report, Raul Campoverde, 25, sped past a Bloomfield police cruiser waiting at a red light. According to the officers in the car, Jennifer Horn and Caesar Mazzeo, Campoverde shot through the red light at about 80 MPH in a gray, four door, Honda Accord.

The officers followed the Honda eastbound on Bloomfield Ave. and watched abruptly turned into a driveway and stop behind a building.

Police say that as the officers approached the vehicle on foot, Mazzeo noticed a young child standing on the rear seat of the car, holding onto the front seat headrest. Campoverde reportedly ignored the order to exit the vehicle and instead reached toward the floor of the vehicle with his left hand. He reportedly ignored further commands to exit the vehicle and again reportedly reached to his left for something inside the driver’s side door pocket. 

Police say the officers restrained the driver and removed him from the car. The arresting officers reportedly smelled liquor on Campoverde’s breath when he allegedly attempted to fight them off. After Campoverde was secured, the officers reportedly found a small wooden baseball bat inside of the driver’s side door pocket.

With the driver under arrest and the weapon secured the officers were able to question the female front seat passenger, a 23-year-old Newark woman who told the Officers the child in the back seat was the Campoverde’s daughter. She also said that Mr. Campoverde does not have legal custody of his daughter but that his sister, who picked up the child at the scene, had custody.

Raul Campoverde was charged with DWI, refusal to submit breath samples, DWI in a school zone, eluding, obstruction, endangering the welfare of a child, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

His bail was set at $100,000 and a court date is pending.