NJ man arrested, charged in hit-and-run that injured cop

Police have arrested a 27-year-old Newark man in connection with a hit-and-run accident earlier this week that left a city police officer hospitalized.

Rafael Perez has been charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, assault by auto, aggressive driving, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, failing to render aid to an injured victim and causing injury while being unlicensed, authorities said Thursday.

The accident took place early Sunday on Foundry Street at 4:13 a.m., police said. According to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, while the officer was out of his patrol car issuing parking tickets to vehicles parked along the street. Authorities say the officer was struck by a Mazda Protégé driven by Perez. He remains hospitalized in stable condition, police said in a statement.

Perez is being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark on $150,000 bail, with no 10 percent option, police said.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.