Cops: Man Assaults Officer After Driving Drunk

A Hopatcong man assaulted a police officer after driving drunk without his headlights on, police said.

Det. Ryan Tracey was on a motor vehicle stop when he saw a Harry Persadsingh's vehicle driving toward him on River Styx Road without his lights at 11:40 p.m. Friday, police said. So Tracey ended the stop and followed Persadsingh, 53, police said.

When Tracey stopped Persadsingh, he smelled raw marijuana from within the vehicle, police said. Persadsingh then failed field sobriety tests, police said.

A search of Persadsingh's vehicle revealed a clear plastic sandwich bag filled with marijuana, police said. Then Persadsingh was arrested for driving while intoxicated and possession of a controlled dangerous substance and taken to the , police said.

At the department Persadsingh continually cursed at Travey, police said. And when Tracey attempted to handcuff Persadsingh's second hand to the prisoner bench, Persadsingh grabbed Tracey by the collar, police said.

So Tracey punched Persadsingh in the face until he let go, police said. Tracey and Officer Christopher Lotito placed Persadsingh in a holding cell, police said.

Persadsingh was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a vehicle, failure to keep right, driving without headlights on, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated in a school zone, refusal to give break samples, resisting arrest and assault on a police officer.

Persadsingh was later released to a family member, police said.