MANSFIELD TOWNSHIP, NJ (Warren County) – A Long Valley man is facing charges after a scuffle with police that left a storefront glass window shattered Wednesday evening.
At 7:11 p.m., township officers responded to the Mansfield Plaza on reports of a suspicious male in the parking lot allegedly yelling obscenities and looking into vehicles, police said.
It was also reported he was being combative to customers and had entered Pronto’s Pizzeria & Restaurant where he was causing a problem, police said.
Officers arrived and found Owen R. Cox, 30, of Long Valley inside the pizzeria. On March 3 Cox was issued a no trespass order after the owner caught him opening the cash register, police said.
Officers asked Cox to step outside of the store and he reluctantly complied. While speaking with him outside, he became non-compliant and refused to follow directions of the officers so he could be patted down for weapons. He began physically resisting the officers’ efforts and swung his arms back at the officers, police said.
Cox was told he was under arrest and continued to resist. During the altercation they slammed into the storefront’s large glass window causing it to completely shatter. He was taken to the ground where they continued to struggle with him. He was eventually handcuffed and taken into custody, police said.
Several witnesses had offered assistance to the officers during the struggle, which although unneeded was very much appreciated, police said.
Cox was charged with third-degree resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct, and defiant trespass. He was lodged in the Warren County Jail pending a court appearance.
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By: Jay Edwards Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook
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(Photo Courtesy: Mansfield Township Police)
