11/12/2006     12:46 AM
Starlite Lounge, Days Inn

At the above date and time, Patrolmen Eric Wood and Joseph Marcantonio were working a security detail at the Starlite Restaurant and Lounge, located in the Days Inn on route 18 southbound, near the turnpike bridge. The two officers were speaking with a third officer, Patrolman Alex Todoroff, when they became aware of a fight breaking out on the dance floor. The three officers responded and separated Jose I. Diaz-Lazo, 39 years old, of New Brunswick and 34 year old Yerson Ortiz-Lara, also of New Brunswick. While separating the two men, Ortiz-Lara began punching Patrolman Todoroff. Patrolmen Todoroff and Marcantonio attempted to take Ortiz-Lara into custody when several other individuals became involved and attempted to prevent the officers from handcuffing Ortiz-Lara.

At the same, Diaz-Lazo charged at Patrolman Wood, who was trying to protect the other officers as they made the arrest. Diaz-Lazo jumped on Patrolman Wood’s back and attempted to remove his handgun from his holster. As the three officers fought with a crowd of attackers, Diaz-Lazo was able to hide in the bar. He had been unsuccessful in disarming the officer.

The officers were able to remove Ortiz-Lara from the bar and later found Diaz-Lazo hiding in the bar. He was advised that he was under arrest at which time he lunged at the officers with a beer bottle. The officers were able to disarm him and take him into custody. The other individuals who interfered and tried to prevent the arrest of Ortiz-Lara were unidentified.

Diaz-Lazo was charged with attempting to disarm a police officer, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and obstruction of justice. He was evaluated at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital for injuries sustained in the attack on the officers and later committed to the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center on $35000 bail. Ortiz-Lara was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice and was committed to the MCACC on $25000 bail. There is no available information on the type of injuries to Diaz-Lazo or the cause of the initial fight.