Pair Punched, Kicked Cop After Traffic Stop, Police Say

Two Wayne men were charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and resisting arrest after they attempted to flee during a traffic stop on Packanack Lake Road Tuesday night, police reported.

Beomyoung Joung and Alexandar Balarin, both 18, were riding in a vehicle with improper lights in the Packanack Lake section of town shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday, Officer Ken Hart reported.

Hart smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and questioned Balarin, the driver. While speaking with Balarin outside of the vehicle, Hart reported Balarin admitted he and Joung smoked marijuana earlier that night, according to the police report.

Joung was also brought outside of the vehicle and questioned, the report states.

Hart reported finding a piece of marijuana in the vehicle and an open bag with several ziplock baggies in it, the report said.

While handcuffing Balarin, Joung lunged toward the vehicle, taking a black backpack out of the rear of the vehicle and running away, the report states.

Hart caught up with Joung and wrestled him to the ground, at which point Joung began hitting Hart, the report states.

While he was wrestling with Joung, Balarin kicked Hart in the ribs several times, grabbed the backpack, and ran down Archung Road in handcuffs, Hart reported. Joung continued to struggle and hit Hart, who sprayed Joung in the face with Pepper spray and secured him in handcuffs.

Det. Colin Tarpey caught up with Balarin on the Packanack Lake Golf Course and took him into custody, the report states.

Police found the backpack in the back yard of 16 Archung Road. The bag had a large vacuum-sealed bag with marijuana in it, Hart reported.

Balarin and Joung both admitted to owning the marijuana, which they said was bought at a party in Pompton Lakes for $3,600, Hart reported.

In addition to the assault and resisting arrest charges, the men were charged with obstruction, hindering apprehension, possession of more than 50 grams of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute.

Both individuals were unable to post bail and were transported to the Passaic County jail, police reported.

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