Man Assaults 4 Women In Nutley, Leads Cops On Chase: Police – Belleville, NJ Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Authorities charged an Essex County man with multiple counts of assault after he allegedly punched two women, tried to punch another and put a fourth woman in a chokehold in Nutley on Monday, police said.

Quinn Mayweather, 22, of East Orange, also tried to escape from Belleville police officers in a stolen car before he was apprehended, according to the Nutley Police Department.

Authorities said Mayweather was also wanted in connection to a robbery in Clifton and a sexual assault in Bloomfield. All of the incidents took place Monday, Belleville police said.

The series of assaults started at 4:44 p.m. near the intersection of Hawthorne and Bloomfield Avenue, Nutley police said.

Mayweather got out of a Hyundai Sonata and approached a 31-year-old pedestrian from Nutley, asking if she wanted to talk. When she said no, he punched her in the face and fled towards Hillside Avenue. The injured victim went into a nearby establishment, where people gave her first aid, Nutley police said.

Minutes later, Mayweather approached a 60-year-old woman on Hillside Avenue and demanded she let him use her phone. When the victim declined, Mayweather made a fist and swung at the woman several times, causing her to fall. She sustained a minor injury, Nutley police said.

Mayweather then fled to Franklin Avenue and Chestnut Street, where he grabbed a 45-year-old woman from behind and placed her in a chokehold. Mayweather released the woman when she screamed for her husband, Nutley police stated.

Mayweather crossed the street and assaulted a fourth woman, punching the 35-year-old victim in the face as she was waiting to enter a nail salon, police said.

None of the women were seriously injured, authorities said.

Meanwhile, Nutley police officers relayed a description of the women’s assailant and his vehicle to surrounding agencies, including the Belleville Police Department. A short time later, Belleville police found the Hyundai Sonata, which was stolen out of East Orange earlier that day, authorities said.

When Belleville officers tried to stop the car, Mayweather tried to escape, leading police on a short car chase before crashing into a parked car and a tree. He was apprehended after the collision and transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, authorities said.

Authorities have charged Mayweather with three counts of simple assault and one count of aggravated assault. He also faces charges in other jurisdictions, Nutley police said.

Belleville authorities said Mayweather has been charged with eluding police and receiving stolen property.

Nutley Police Chief Thomas Strumolo called the series of assaults “unusual.”

“Four women walking at separate locations, minding their own business – all assaulted for no reason – is not something we see very often,” Strumolo said.

Nutley Police Director Alphonse Petracco commended officers, detectives and dispatchers for their work and wished the victims a speedy recovery. He also thanked the police departments in Belleville, Bloomfield and Clifton for their assistance.

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