Homeless Woman Arrested for Assaulting 2 Elderly People in Hoboken, NJ

Around 11:10 AM on November 12, 2022, Officers Dylan Archilla and Marco Grossman along with Sergeant Francisco Rosa with the Hoboken Police Department responded to a report of a female being attacked in front of City Hall at 94 Washington Street. He made contact with 2 elderly people, identified as 87-year-old Israel and 73-year-old Nidia, and they pointed towards a female sitting on another bench as the aggressor. Officer Archilla walked over and made contact with the female, who was identified as 45-year-old Tara Montefusco.

The investigation would later reveal that Tara allegedly took the 87-year-old man’s cane and struck him on his left hand. As the 73-year-old woman tried to get his cane back to him, she was attacked by Tara and she suffered more injuries. First responders with Hoboken EMS arrived on scene to evaluate both individuals. The 73-year-old woman was transported to Hoboken University Medical Center, while the 87-year-old man declined further medical attention.

Officer Archilla informed Tara that she was being placed under arrest for assault, and she was handcuffed and escorted to the patrol car. Once she was placed in the patrol car, she spit on the officer. Tara was transported to the Hoboken Police Department for further processing. At police HQ, she was searched by Officer Liana Palladino in more detail. Tara was found to have an outstanding warrant and she was processed and finger printed at police HQ. She was subsequently transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility by Officers Quinn and Azzoline and charged with the following: Aggravated assault, simple assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and throwing bodily fluids at a law enforcement officer

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