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Naheen Aiken (MUGSHOT COURTESY BC SHERIFF)
Naheen Aiken, 23, began kicking the prone officer in the head, then tried smashing his head into a window pane, before others rescued their college and restrained the resisting inmate, Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino said this morning.
The inmate is being charged with aggravated assault on an officer.
Aiken is awaiting grand jury action on a Feb. 2 arrest in connection with a fast-food restaurant holdup in Elmwood Park involving him, another man and a worker accused of letting them in the back door after closing, records show.
Officer Jeffrey DiCostanzo was serving food at the jail Monday when Aiken suddenly began throwing trays at him, Saudino told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
“The inmate was given several commands to stop and place his hands behind his back,” the sheriff said. “The inmate failed to comply and became combative towards the officer. The inmate then charged at the officer and started swinging his fists.
“When the inmate got his hands on the officer he began screaming ‘I am going to kill you.’ The inmate threw the officer to the ground…. then jumped on top of the officer and said, ‘You’re dead.’ “
Aiken
DiCostanzo managed to press his duress alarm, and his colleagues immediately came running.
One of them, Officer Michael Elias, was treated for an injury to his right hand, the sheriff said. Both he and DiCostanzo are now out on medical leave, the sheriff said, adding that DiCostanzo suffered injuries to his shoulder, knee and lower back.
Aiken received medical care for a cut on his right eye, he said.
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