Morris Township police have charged Township resident Michael H. Kaplon, 25, with disrupting Thursday’s Committee meeting and assaulting four officers while resisting arrest.
A video by Morristown Green shows the officers grappling with Kaplon on the lawn outside the municipal building, attempting to handcuff him, shortly after a three-and-half hour meeting wrapped up around 9:30 pm.
Note: This video may be disturbing to younger viewers. Discretion is advised:
Two officers had removed Kaplon from the meeting (see video below) after he directed some loud comments from the back of the room at Committeeman Matheu Nunn.
Video: Police remove man from meeting:
Nunn had been explaining why he voted with fellow Republicans Peter Mancuso and Bruce Sisler for an affordable housing ordinance that had generated intense public debate, and opposition from neighboring Morristown, during nearly 10 hours of meetings this month.
The meeting concluded peacefully. And then Township Administrator Tim Quinn, a former police chief, dashed out to the parking lot, where a small crowd watched the arrest unfold.
Police Chief Mark DiCarlo said his officers received minor abrasions and bruises. They did not require medical attention.
Kaplon had a “complaint of pain” and was taken to Morristown Medical Center, the chief said.
“My arm is broken,” Kaplon said in an email.
He was charged with disrupting a public meeting, a disorderly persons offense. He also was charged with resisting arrest, a third-degree crime, and four counts of third-degree aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer.
He has a date in municipal court on June 13, 2018.
