Borough Man Jailed After Scuffle With Police

A Freehold Borough man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and resisting arrest after he tried to punch two police officers and burn one with a cigarette lighter, police said.

Darrick Flagg, 44, of First Street, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and two counts of resisting arrest on April 21 after punching at and fleeing from two patrolmen trying to arrest him, Lt. Michael Sweetman said.

Flagg’s mother called police before the incident asking if officers would take Flagg to a nearby hospital for a psychiatric examination. When Patrolman Nicholas Iozzi arrived around 11:30 p.m., Flagg tried to punch him and ran away, Sweetman said.

A second officer, Patrolman Brian Ruegger arrived to assist and Flagg also tried to punch him in the face, Sweetman said. Ruegger and Iozzi were able to subdue Flagg and place him under arrest.

Flagg, however, had concealed in his hand a cigarette lighter, which he attempted to burn Ruegger with while the officer was placing cuffs on him, Sweetman said.

Flagg was taken to Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, in lieu of $25,000 cash bail, Sweetman said.