A East Windsor Township man is accused of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving, alluding eluding officers, obstruction, improper reversing, and several other charges.
By: Lauren Burgoon
A township man was being held on $35,000 bail this week after allegedly attempting to hit a police officer with his car.
Giovanni Barreno, 28, of the Windsor Regency Apartments was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and three counts of resisting arrest after an incident at 3:20 p.m. Sunday.
Mr. Barreno was held at gunpoint and it took four police officers to subdue him, police said.
Police said Patrol Officer Dale Kleinkauf saw Mr. Barreno’s car traveling on the wheel rims with smoke coming from the front of the green vehicle. As Officer Kleinkauf moved to pulled over Mr. Barreno, he received a call advising him that a green car just had been involved in a hit-and-run accident in the area, according to police.
Officer Kleinkauf attempted to pull over Mr. Barreno but police said he did not stop. Police said Mr. Barreno tried to elude the officer by speeding throughout the apartment complex. Mr. Barreno’s car ended up in a dead end and Officer Kleinkauf backed him in, according to police.
Police said Officer Kleinkauf exited his patrol car and started to approach the car when Mr. Barreno reversed. Officer Kleinkauf had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck, according to police. The officer then ordered Mr. Barreno out of his car at gunpoint, police said. Police said Officer Kleinkauf ordered Mr. Barreno to exit the car several times before Mr. Barreno threw his keys out of the car window.
According to police, Officer Kleinkauf reholstered his gun and, with the help of Patrol Officers John Bartzak, Scott Bodnar and Michael Sapp, wrestled Mr. Barreno to the ground and placed handcuffs on him.
Police said Mr. Barreno told police to kill him several times.
The officers smelled alcohol on Mr. Barreno’s breath, according to police. At police headquarters Mr. Barreno registered a blood alcohol content of .15, .16, which is above the legal limit of .08.
Mr. Barreno also was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving, alluding eluding officers, obstruction, improper reversing, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, failure to wear a seat belt and operating an unsafe vehicle.
He was held on $35,000 bail and transferred to the Mercer County Correction Center.