Indictment: NJ man dragged cop, tried to hit her with car

A 20-year-old Paterson man has been indicted on charges alleging that he dragged a female police officer while resisting arrest and then tried to strike her with his car while she was on the ground, authorities said in a press release.

According to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, a suspect identified as Ameer S. Elkaryoney was indicted on charges including second-degree eluding police, second-degree aggravated assault for causing injury while eluding, second-degree aggravated assault for causing serious bodily injury, third-degree aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and third-degree resisting arrest.

The charges stem from a Sept. 12, 2015 incident in the area of Jefferson and North 3rd streets. Authorities say that at approximately 6 a.m., Elkaryoney "used force" against Paterson Police Officer Maribel Candelo as she was attempting to arrest him.

During the course of the arrest, Elkaryoney "fled in a motor vehicle from her, dragged her, attempted to strike her with his vehicle while she was on the ground, and continued to reverse his vehicle as she pursued him on foot," the prosecutor's office said.

The prosecutor's office said that as Elkaryoney attempted to elude police, Candelo discharged her weapon, but no injuries were reported as a result. The officer herself sustained injuries to her leg, arm, hand and hip area. Her injuries was not life-threatening.

Elkaryoney was arraigned on March 21 and entered a not guilty plea. He remains in custody on $125,000 cash bail.

Charges of second-degree eluding and aggravated assault carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in a state prison, while third-degree charges of aggravated assault and resisting arrest carry sentences of up to five years in state prison.

Toniann Antonelli can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.<