A New Jersey man who attempted to elude police now faces felony charges of aggravated assault and lesser related offenses after responding to a suspicion person call.
Falls Township Police responded to a call of a suspicious person on the 100 block of Canterbury Road in Fairless Hills, last Thursday (July 11). The caller reported a white male is thirties or forties approached her door, then took off running when confronted.
At approximately 4:06 pm, police said they arrived on scene and spoke with the resident who described the subject as a bald white male in late his thirties or early forties wearing a light blue tank top with light khaki pants and a backpack that appeared empty. She told police she came from behind her house, saw the man walking away from her house toward her neighbor’s driveway, and when she called out to him asking what he needed, she stated he took off running through the backyard of her neighbors property.
The area was checked by multiple officers on foot and in patrol vehicles with negative contact, said police.
Later, the suspect was observed by police at the Sunoco on the 300 block of Lincoln Highway, Fairless Hills. The suspect fled when the officer attempted to stop him for identification, said in the probable cause.
Officers pursued the suspect, giving lawful commands for the suspect to stop running. He ignored those commands and continued to flee. The suspect resisted numerous lawful commands, as well as physically resisted efforts to take him into custody. The suspect was tackled to the ground and after some resistance to being handcuffed, he was eventually taken into custody. Injured in the takedown were two officers, according to the criminal complaint.
The subject was later identified as Anthony Dibattista, Jr, 42, of Roebling NJ. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Court Judge Joseph P. Falcone on two felony charges of aggravated assault and lesser charges of simple assault, evading and resisting arrest. Unable to post bail of 10%/$100,000, Dibattista was remanded to Bucks County Correctional Facility (BCCF). His preliminary hearing is currently set for July 24. He has no attorney on record at this time, according to court documents.
It’s the second time in a little more than two weeks a person has been charged with assault related offenses against a Falls Twp Police officer. Last month Karen Stevens-Nunez, pulled out a black semi-automatic handgun, and pointed it at an officer, police said. she is currently in jail awaiting her next court appearance.