Warrant Arrest, Obstruction, Aggravated Assault, Resisting Arrest, False Report to Law Enforcement

[Lt. Robert Osborn]

On 10/6/18 at 12:32a.m., Newton Police officers responded to 33 Mill Street in an attempt to locate Douglas Hill, a 22 year old town resident, who had an active NCIC warrant out of Warren County Prosecutor’s Office.  Hill also had an ACS warrant out of the Newton Municipal Court. 

 

As officers were walking in the 6^th floor hallway, they observed Hill exiting a nearby apartment.  Hill was advised that there was an active warrant for his arrest and he immediately became defiant and argumentative.  At that time, he was in the company of Briana Katzenstein, a 27 year old resident of Newton who appeared to be intoxicated.  Despite officers informing him of the valid warrant, he ignored their requests and attempted to re-enter the referenced apartment.  As Ptl. Anthony Keiling attempted to take Hill into custody and place him in handcuffs, he became aggressive and physically attempted to resist the officer’s efforts. As Ptl. Keiling and Ptl. Jared Zappa brought Hill to the ground to handcuff him, Katzenstein kicked Ptl. Keiling in the face.

Hill was then handcuffed and Katzenstein was advised she was under arrest for aggravated assault.  Katzenstein also actively attempted to resist arrest but was handcuffed.  Katzenstein also attempted to kick another officer while she was being placed in the rear of the patrol vehicle. 

As a result of their actions, the two were charged with the following offenses:

Douglas Hill, age 22, Clinton Street, Newton, NJ:

N.J.S. 2C: 29-1       Obstruction the Administration of Law (Disorderly Persons)

N.J.S. 2C:29-2a(1) Resisting Arrest (Disorderly Persons)

Hill was lodged in the Sussex County Jail for the NCIC warrant out of Warren County 

 

Briana Katzenstein, age 27, Sparta Avenue, Newton, NJ:

N.J.S. 2C:12-1b(5)(a)  Aggravated Assault  (3^rd Degree)

N.J.S. 2C:29-2a(1)       Resisting Arrest (Disorderly Persons)  

Katzenstein was released on a complaint summons.

 

Ptl. Keiling sustained a minor injury to his left hand but refused medical treatment.

 

Subsequently, on 10/6/18 at 10:40a.m., Newton Police received a report from a town resident who indicated that she had been sexually assaulted at the same 6^th floor apartment during the evening on 10/5/18.   However, further investigation revealed that the alleged victim, Jamie Decker, age 24, of Mill Street had filed a false police report attempting to implicate two adult males who had been in her company earlier that night.

 

Due to the investigation, Decker was charged with knowingly giving false information to a law enforcement officer with purpose to implicate another in violation of:

N.J.S. 2C:28-4a (2nd Degree).          

 

Investigating officers:

Ptl. Anthony Keiling, Ptl. Jared Zappa, Detective Thomas Tosti, Sgt. Thomas Muller, Ptl. Scott Vertetis, Ptl. Kenneth Teets, Ptl. Jose Morales and Ptl. Russell Post and Lt. Mark Zappa.