Unruly Crowd Leads to Aggravated Assault of Police Officer

Three people were arrested — one for the aggravated assault of a police officer — after neighbors called police about excessive noise on the 200 block of Glenwood Avenue on April 11.

Desmond Persaud of Bloomfield was arrested after twice refusing to comply with a Bloomfield police officer’s order to stop when requested.

According to police, when the officer arrived, he heard male voices in the back of the building. The officer used his police car spotlight to discover the men in back of a building.

Police say the officer attempted to speak with the men and ordered them to stop. The three men did not stop and instead headed into a nearby building. The officer ordered the men to stop a second time, and all but Persaud complied.

However, the officer became concerned for his safety when Persaud kept his hands in his pockets after the officer ordered him to stop the second time. A struggle ensued between the officer and Persaud in the building lobby. The fight eventually spilled onto the sidewalk outside.

During the scuffle, a crowd gathered and began taunting the officer and encouraging Persaud to continue fighting before additional police arrived to break up the melee and arrest him.

"The officer was trying to control the people for their own safety," said Sergeant Anthony Servedio of the Bloomfield Police Department.  "People started yelling at the officer.  Additional officers came and helped control the crowd, and arrested the subject."

Persaud was charged with aggravated assault on an officer, resisting arrest, hindering apprehension and obstruction.  Bail was set at $48,000.

"A female in the crowd was recognized as having an outstanding warrant," added Servedio.  "She was charged as well." After further investigation, another Bloomfield resident in the crowd was also arrested, according to the police report.

Yevette Hillgrove was charged with obstruction and riot and having an outstanding warrant out of East Orange. Brian Mitchell was arrested later on obstruction and riot charges, police reported.

Jack Durschlag and Linda Federico-O'Murchu contributed to this report.

The following information has been provided by the Bloomfield Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.