NEWBURGH – A man believed to be having a bad reaction to PCP bit a Newburgh City police officer on the palm of his hand as the officer restrained him. As a result, Lamel Johnson, 42, was charged with assault.
The incident occurred at around 10:40 p.m. on January 29.
Police were called to the area of 165 Chambers Street for a report of a naked man running down the street.
When officers arrived, they found Johnson lying on the sidewalk with his pants down around his ankles, and a man attempting to assist him.
Residents on the street told officers they believed Johnson was having a bad reaction to PCP – Angel Dust.
A Mobile Life Support Services ambulance and paramedics arrived, but Johnson did not want to go in the ambulance. Emergency personnel determined he was still a danger to himself and others on the street, so they determined he had to be restrained on a stretcher.
Police Officer Frank Quinn was attempting to control Johnson’s upper body using his left hand and that is when the man bit the officer on the palm. The officer was able to free his hand, Johnson was fully restrained and transported to Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall hospital for treatment.
Officer Quinn suffered a tear from the bite, which caused bleeding, bruising, pain and swelling.
