NEWBURGH – On Sunday afternoon Randy Martinez was pulling into his driveway on Washington Street in the City of Newburgh when he saw a pedestrian arguing with a passing cyclist.
When Randy Martinez, a passenger in the vehicle, put the window down to ask the man to move, the man pulled out a knife and threatened him and the driver, Alex Ramirez.
Ramirez and his friend raced into the driveway at 336 Washington Street to avoid the armed man. While in the driveway, Martinez called 911 to report the incident and started recording the incident on his phone.
When Police Officer Roman Scuardroni arrived, Martinez said he was “scared for the cop because the guy had a knife.” What Martinez didn’t know at the time was the suspect had apparently thrown the weapon in the driveway before police arrived. “It was a very scary situation,” said Ramirez.
But when the suspect, identified as Tony Mann, 31, walked up to Officer Scuardroni and punched him in the face. Police said Mann appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic.
Other police officers arrived and took the man into custody and the knife was located.
Mann was charged with trespass, assault, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration and menacing.
Officer Scardroni suffered a minor injury to his mouth, left and right thumbs including cuts.
Mann was taken to the hospital for treatment.
