A Red Bank policeman suffered minor injuries in a scuffle with an alleged car burglar he chased through hedges and a fence early Tuesday morning, redbankgreen has learned.
Patrolman Benjamin Springer suffered a hand injury when the suspect smashed one of Springer’s hands against the pavement outside 148 Monmouth Street. according to Chief Darren McConnell.
The incident began at around 3:30 a.m., when Springer saw the beam of a flashlight and spotted a man in the area of 35 West Street truying to remove the soft top of a parked Jeep with the intention of burglarizing it.
The suspect, 23-year-old Kaire Hatcher, of 53 Stevens Avenue in Tinton Falls, fled on foot, with Springer in pursuit, over backyard hedges and even through a metal fence, according to borough Republican party chairman Sean Di Somma, of West Street. He told redbankgreen that the suspect apparently “didn’t see my fence, and literally ran right through it.”
After locating Hatcher hiding beneath a bush, Springer attempted to take Hatcher into custody, but the suspect resisted, McConnell said. In the ensuing scuffle, which was joined by Patrolman Michael Zadlock, Hatcher assaulted both, he said.
Springer was treated and released for a hand injury at Riverview Medical Center, said McConnell.
Hatcher was charged with burglary, assault and resisting arrest. Municipal court Judge William Himelm bail at $42,000. Hatcher remained in the Monmouth County lockup early Wednesday afternoon.
Hatcher was charged last November in a violent mugging that left a pedestrian with a concussion. The status of that matter, in which bail was set at $220,000, could not be learned immediately.
