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Officers responding to a 10:47 a.m. assist call for an emotionally disturbed man on Park Street chased down 56-year-old Jose Romero, Police Chief Ralph Verdi told Daily Voice.
"They calmed him down at first," Verdi said. "Then, out of the blue, he just went off."
Romero tackled Officer John Clark, who hit his head on the pavement, the chief said.
He then punched Officer John Andronico in the face several times and bit his hand, he said.
"It took four officers to finally get him down and into cuffs," Verdi said. "It was only later that the family told us he'd been high on drugs for days."
Romero was arrested on Wednesday by New Jersey State Police and released following a trespassing incident at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, the chief said.
He was brought after Thursday morning's incident to Bergen Regional Medical Center pending transfer to the Bergen County Jail.
Charges include four counts each of aggravated assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.
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