west side

Residents have long complained about loitering on the stretch of West Side Avenue between Duncan and Kensington avenues. Caitlin Mota | The Jersey Journal

JERSEY CITY - Two police officers were assaulted on West Side Avenue Wednesday night after they told a group to stop blocking the sidewalk, officials said.

At about 7 p.m., officers assigned to walking posts spotted 29-year-old Courtney Hemmingway "yelling and acting erratically" near Gautier Avenue, city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said.

Several residents complained to the officers about the group blocking the sidewalk. The officers told him four times to move, which he did not do, so one of the cops began to write him a ticket for obstructing a public passage way, Morrill said.

When police were taking his information, Hemmingway punched one of the officers in the face. Moments later his cousin, Chajuan Hemmingway, came out from a corner store and joined in on the assault, according to Morrill.

One officer who was punched in the face during the fracas was taken to Jersey City Medical Center, while the other officer was treated at the scene.

The cousins -- who were both acquitted of murder in 2013 -- did not appear during Thursday afternoon's Criminal Justice Reform court hearing. The Hudson County jail did not have any record of them being in custody.

Residents have long complained about loitering on the stretch of West Side Avenue between Duncan and Kensington avenues, including at a recent neighborhood public safety meeting.

Thursday afternoon, a local business owner told The Jersey Journal that men and women are constantly flooding the street.

"I call the cops all the time," said the beautician, who asked not to be named out of fear for her safety. "They move them, they go around the block, and they come back. They're drinking and everything."

The woman has worked on West Side Avenue for nearly 25 years, and she said loitering continues to get worse and hurts her business. Customers often tell her they fear coming into the neighborhood because they aren't sure what the group is doing.

The stretch of roadway includes several restaurants that stay open late and a liquor store.

Juno Won, 70, has owned the liquor store near intersection of West Side and Fairview avenues for five years. He recently told The Jersey Journal he's had a problem with loiters since day his first of owning the business.

"After 30 minutes they come back," he said, noting that he's spoken to police about the issue. "It's like a rubber band."

The beautician said men often stand outside the liquor store drinking and harassing women as they walk down the street.

"Women pass by and they talk so nasty to them," she said. "To see a beautiful woman, you don't have to say nasty stuff. Respect."

Amy Wilson, a longtime West Side resident, echoed the business owner, saying a situation like Wednesday night "was bound to happen."

Officers patrol West Side Avenue the night after two cops were assaulted. Caitlin Mota | The Jersey Journal

"The situation of extremely drunk and unruly guys hanging out and acting in a threatening manner has been building for years," Wilson said. "We've tried talking to the police, our current and former councilmen, and appealing to our mayor - somehow, the situation never changes."

Thursday evening, a group of four police officers were seen standing on the corner where the cops were assaulted.

Ward B Councilman Chris Gadsden said he has been working closely with the West District police and the local businesses over the past month and a half to find a way to stop large groups from taking up the sidewalks.

"As a community we can continually talk to the business owners and neighbors and get a handle on it," Gadsden said. "It's real sad the cops had to get assaulted."

Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said the neighborhood has "more walking posts there than ever before." With the department growing, new recruits will continue to be assigned to walking posts when they join the force.

"But the reality is, we also have to address problems in other parts of the district which require attention," she said.

Jersey Journal staff writer Terrence McDonald contributed to this report.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.