A Florida man wrecked his car into a divider on Route 80 West in Saddle Brook early Monday, then allegedly spent the next several minutes fighting off the state troopers and EMS worker trying to help him. Shamek Maynard, 32, of Ocala, Florida, was taken into custody after the crash near milepost 62.3 and now faces a long list of charges, including weapons and assault counts.
According to NJ1015, Maynard crashed into the divider in the westbound lanes near Exit 62 around 1 a.m. New Jersey State Police Trooper II Christopher Postorino said Maynard was behind the wheel of the vehicle involved in the crash, according to Daily Voice, which reported the crash happened at about 1:02 a.m. Monday.
Per Postorino, Maynard ignored troopers' commands while he remained seated in the driver's seat, and when troopers tried to remove him from the vehicle for medical attention, he repeatedly attempted to strike them. The outlet reported that police said Maynard showed signs of impairment after being pulled from the car, and NJ1015 separately reported that he appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Scuffle Continued Through Arrest and Medical Treatment
The fight didn't end with the initial struggle. Postorino said Maynard continued trying to strike troopers even after he was placed under arrest, and he went on to assault an EMS first aid worker as well, per the same account. NJ1015's report adds detail to the physical confrontation, noting that Maynard repeatedly struck, kicked and pushed multiple troopers while resisting arrest, and that one trooper suffered an injury to his right hand.
Once Maynard was strapped to a gurney, the station reported, he hurled insults and made threats to hurt both the troopers and the medical personnel tending to him. He was ultimately taken to an area hospital for evaluation, according to Daily Voice's reporting.
Loaded Handgun With Defaced Serial Number Found in Car
While processing the scene, investigators uncovered a handgun with a defaced serial number, according to Daily Voice. NJ1015 reported that troopers found the weapon sitting on the driver's seat during a probable-cause search of the vehicle, and that it was loaded with seven hollow-point bullets, with ammunition inside the magazine labeled “auto + p.”
Maynard was ultimately hit with a lengthy slate of charges: unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a defaced firearm, being a certain person not permitted to possess a firearm, and possession of hollow-point ammunition. He also faces aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a first aid worker, being a fugitive from justice, resisting arrest, obstruction, terroristic threats, and DUI, per Daily Voice's reporting.
Maynard was lodged in Bergen County Jail and remained there as of press time, according to the outlet.
