Officers Injured As Hoboken Trespassing Bust Turns Violent; Weapons, Drug Paraphernalia Found

A trespassing call took a dark turn Sunday night as Mark Willis, 54, of Hoboken, was arrested for a string of charges—aggravated assault on an officer, unlawful weapons, and drug paraphernalia.

Just before 10:00 p.m. on December 22, Officer Enrico Gnassi and Officer Harold Milne located the defendant trespassing at 321 Harrison Street. They allegedly observed Willis exhaling a cloud of smoke and found what are believed to be empty packets of CDS Heroin.

Upon informing Willis that he was being placed under arrest for Trespassing, Willis tried to run through Officer Milne and Officer Gnassi. As Officers were attempting to gain control of the defendant, Willis stuck Officer Milne about the right eye and struck Officer Gnassi in the rib area.

During the struggle, Officer Milne observed a knife sticking out of a bag Willis was carrying. Officer Milne was able to secure the weapon and Willis was eventually transported to Headquarters, where he was charged with Aggravated Assault on Police Officer, Resisting Arrest with Force, Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Use (Knife), Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Knife), Certain Persons not to Have Weapons, Defiant Trespassing, USE of a Control Dangerous Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Willis was eventually transported to the Hudson County Jail. Officer Gnassi was treated by the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance but not transported to the hospital. Officer Milne was transported to the hospital and later released and medically cleared to return back to duty.

***