HANOVER — On Friday, August 16, 2024, three Hanover Township Police Officers responded to the Red Carpet Inn at 1255 Route 10 to investigate a complaint of harassment and threats between motel residents. During the investigation, one officer noticed a man lighting a cigarette in the hallway, despite having been repeatedly warned in the past that smoking inside the motel was prohibited. The officer informed the man he would be issued a summons, at which point the man attempted to flee into a room. As the officer tried to prevent him from entering by grabbing his arm, the man resisted. The man’s wife and daughter began shouting threats and profanity at the officers, trying to pull them away to stop the arrest.
Other officers moved to detain the daughter, but two male motel residents then attacked the officers to prevent her arrest, sparking a large altercation in the hallway. The officers called for backup, and additional Hanover officers, along with officers from surrounding jurisdictions, arrived to secure the scene. Ultimately, three men and two women were arrested and transported to police headquarters. Several officers sustained injuries, though none required medical attention.
Those charged include:
- Luis Pabon, 34: Aggravated Assault on Police, Resisting Arrest, Riot, Obstruction, Failure to Disperse, Violent Disorderly Conduct, and Smoking in Public.
- Aaliyah Rodriguez, 18: Terroristic Threats, Resisting Arrest, Riot, Obstruction, Failure to Disperse, and Violent Disorderly Conduct.
- Annamarie Rodriguez, 35: Riot, Failure to Disperse, Obstruction, and Violent Disorderly Conduct.
- Dawan Portis, 20: Aggravated Assault on Police, Resisting Arrest, Riot, Obstruction, Failure to Disperse, and Violent Disorderly Conduct.
- Ahmir Portis, 18: Aggravated Assault on Police, Resisting Arrest, Riot, Obstruction, Failure to Disperse, and Violent Disorderly Conduct.
The three men were lodged in the Morris County Jail awaiting a detention hearing, while the two women were issued summonses and released pending court dates.
Editors Note: The court’s rules require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
