Arrest - Aggravated Assault, Bias Intimidation
Lt. Robert Osborn
On December 29, 2014 at 11:38a.m., Newton Police responded to the Newton Medical Center for a report of an assault on a doctor.
Upon arrival, patrols met with the reported victim, Dr. Sureshbabu Kurra.
Investigation revealed that Dr. Kurra was assaulted as he went to conduct an examination on a patient identified as Robert Hontz, age 22, of Swartswood Road, Newton, who was seeking treatment at the medical facility.
Dr. Kurra was acting in the capacity of a doctor and was wearing his identification card when Hontz came up to him and started calling him ethnic and racial slurs. Hontz then threatened to “head butt” him and had to be separated from Dr. Kurra.
Shortly thereafter, another doctor went to check on Hontz and he stated that he wanted to offer an apology to Dr. Kurra for his actions. Dr. Kurra then went to approach Hontz to accept his apology but Hontz suddenly head butted him, striking him in the head. As a result of the assault, Dr. Kurra had a visible lump on the left side of his head and also had a complaint of pain.
As a result, Hontz was charged with the following offenses:
N.J.S. 2C:12-1b(5)(j) Aggravated Assault (3rd Degree)
N.J.S. 2C:16-1a(1) Bias Intimidation (2nd Degree)
Bail was set by Judge Mulhern at $57,500 with no 10% option and Hontz must undergo a psychiatric evaluation at his own expense prior to being released.
Investigating Officers:
Ptl. John Flanagan, Sgt. Frank Philhower