By: Richard L. Smith
A 27-year-old Bloomfield man was arrested after a violent confrontation in downtown Montclair left another man unresponsive and bleeding heavily from the head, according to Montclair Police.
Officers responded to the area of Bloomfield Avenue and South Park Street following reports of a fight involving two men.
When police arrived, they found a 42-year-old Montclair man lying unresponsive on the sidewalk and bleeding profusely from a head injury.
Witnesses provided officers with a description of the suspect, who was reportedly seen fleeing east along Bloomfield Avenue following the altercation.
Police searched the area and located the suspect inside the North Fullerton Parking Deck. Authorities identified him as Zebulun Paul, 27, of Bloomfield, and took him into custody.
Montclair EMS transported the injured man to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson for treatment. His condition was not immediately available.
Police charged Paul with aggravated assault in connection with the incident.
Authorities said the confrontation allegedly continued after Paul was taken to police headquarters, where he was accused of fighting with officers.
Paul was subsequently charged with two additional counts of aggravated assault against law enforcement officers, refusal to submit to fingerprinting and criminal mischief for allegedly damaging police property.