NEWARK  — A man who jumped a turnstile at a PATH station bit a police officer in the hand during a brief fight on Monday, authorities say.

Port Authority Police said an officer stopped Matthew Jones, 32, of Newark, after he jumped the handicapped turnstile at Newark Penn Station and tried to take him into custody on a warrant for a charge of receiving stolen property.

Jones flailed his arms and went into a fighting position as the officer tried to arrest him and then ran off, according to police. An NJ Transit officer joined a struggle with Jones when he tried to resist arrest in the main fare zone. During the fight, Jones bit one of the officers in the left hand, according to the Port Authority.

The officer was treated and released from Newark University Medical Center.

Jones was charged with aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, resisting arrest by flight, theft of service, bail jumping and disorderly conduct. He was being held Tuesday at the Essex County Corrections Facility.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com

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