Edwin G. Sisalema-Guananga, 34, of Brooklyn, NY, was immediately combative when Palisades Park police officers stopped his vehicle on Route 46 East near Abbott Avenue in Palisades Park on Friday, Sept. 4, just before 11:55 p.m., Police Chief George Beck said.
Patrol Detective Robert Then, who was working a DWI enforcement detail, had spotted a red Chevrolet Camaro traveling at a high rate of speed before stopping the vehicle, Beck said.
Sisalema-Guananga got out of the Camaro and refused to follow lawful commands before appearing intoxicated and becoming aggressive and belligerent toward Then and backup officers, Beck said.
As officers tried to arrest him, Sisalema-Guananga resisted, sparking a physical struggle that left Then and Officer Julio Mancilla with minor injuries, according to Beck. Both were treated at the scene and did not require hospitalization.
Police said Sisalema-Guananga repeatedly gave officers false information about his identity before they ultimately determined who he was.
He was charged with resisting arrest causing injury to an officer, hindering apprehension and obstructing the administration of law, Beck said. He was also issued several summonses, including driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to chemical breath testing, careless driving and driving without a license.
Sisalema-Guananga was processed and released pending a Monday, Sept. 14 appearance in Bergen County Superior Court.
“This incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable dangers our officers face every day while keeping our community safe,” Beck said. “Taking a hostile and aggressive suspect into custody is never easy, especially when officers must navigate an immediate, evolving threat to their personal safety.”
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