Teaneck Rape Suspect Released After Bogota Officer Is Injured In Scuffle

BOGOTA, N.J. -- A Teaneck man charged three years ago with raping a teenager was released by a judge hours after Bogota police said he put an officer out work for at least a month.

Kareem Gibbs
Photo Credit: *COURTESY: Bergen County Prosecutor*

Jerry DeMarco

10/31/2017 11:39 a.m.

Officer Walter Kumka discovered that Kareem Gibbs, 25, was wanted on two warrants following a traffic stop Friday night on Linden Avenue, Capt. James Sepp said.

After a brief exchange, Gibbs took off on foot but was chased down by Kumka, he said.

Gibbs was subdued and arrested, but Kumka had to be hospitalized for a broken finger, swelling and bruising on his face, a bloody nose and cuts and scrapes on his arms, the captain said.

Although he was discharged from the hospital, the officer will be out from four to six weeks, Sepp said.

Gibbs was taken to the Bergen County Jail on charges of:

Aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer;
Resisting arrest;
Hindering apprehension;
Possession of crack with the intent to distribute it;
Possession of marijuana.

Barely 10 hours after the incident, a judge ordered Gibbs released under New Jersey's 2017 bail reform law, records show.

ALSO SEE: Three Teaneck men charged in rape of girl, 15

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