Motorcyclist fights officer during traffic stop, cops say

A motorcyclist accused of speeding through Middletown on Sunday decided to get into a fight with police rather than stop.

Middletown Police said in a news release an officer spotted Nicholas J. Lewandowski, 18, of Middletown speeding and driving recklessly on Route 35 on Sunday morning. Officer Thomas Hughes gave chase into a parking lot, where police said Lewandowski crashed his motorcycle and continued to run from police on foot.

Hughes caught up to Lewandowski, who "squared off to fight" Hughes and started throwing punches, police said. Off-duty Holmdel Township Officer David D'Arby saw the fight and stepped into assist Hughes, police said.

Lewandowski was charged with a number of offenses including second-degree eluding, aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and not having a motorcycle license. He is currently being held on $60,000 bail at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution.