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Fair Lawn PD: Burglar Tries Grabbing Officer's Gun

FAIR LAWN, N.J. -- A suspected burglar tried grabbing a Fair Lawn police officer's gun during a struggle, authorities said Wednesday.

Fair Lawn Police.

Fair Lawn Police.

Photo Credit: Fair Lawn PBA

Officer Tiller Uriate was on patrol just before 3:30 a.m. Tuesday when he spotted Mark Howard walking in the area of Bellair Ave and 15th Street, Sgt. Sean Macys said.

Uriate discovered Howard carrying burglary tools and stolen property, then began to arrest him when Howard pulled away, Macys said.

"A struggle ensued and Howard attempted multiple times to grab the officer’s gun belt," the sergeant said.

Uriate subdued the suspect with help from backups, he said, adding that Howard spit on the officers there and at headquarters.

Howard, it turned out, had removed a wallet containing the owner's ID and $39 in cash from a car parked on 17th Street moments earlier, Macys said.

A judge ordered him held in the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing on charges that include resisting arrest, aggravated assault, burglary, theft and throwing bodiy fluid at law enforcement, among other counts.

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