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Nanuet Man Assaults Officers After Trying To Pass Bad Checks, Police Say

CLARKSTOWN, N.Y. -- The Clarkstown Police Department arrested a 28-year-old Nanuet man for passing bad checks and assaulting two police officers in New City on Monday, according to the Clarkstown Police Department.

Zarif Shabazz.

Zarif Shabazz.

Photo Credit: Clarkstown Police Department

Zarif Shabazz, 28, was arrested after officers responded to the Citibank at 170 N. Main St., in New City at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, for a report of a man attempting to pass a fraudulent check, said Pete Walker, spokesman for the Clarkstown Police Department.

Bank employees told police that the person who had attempted to cash the checks was sitting in front of the bank in his car, Walker said.

When officers arrived they noticed Shabazz sitting in a black sedan with Georgia license plates. The officers attempted to interview him, but he refused to cooperate, and would not get out of his vehicle, Walker said. 

A physical struggle ensued between Shabazz and the officers. A Taser round was fired at Shabazz but was ineffective. He was finally handcuffed and transported to the Nyack Emergency Room for treatment of the Taser barb, Walker said.

As a result of the struggle, the two officers sustained non-life threatening injuries and were also treated and released from the Nyack Emergency Room. 

Following the confrontation, officers interviewed the bank manager who identified Shabazz as the person who had attempted to cash two checks that were determined to be fraudulent by bank employees, Walker said.

During his arrest, police found multiple checks in his possession as well as in his vehicle. Detectives applied for a search warrant to search Shabazz's vehicle, where they found a shotgun in the trunk and a pellet gun was found next to the driver’s seat, Walker said.

Shabazz was processed at police headquarters and charged with felony criminal possession of forged instrument, felony assault and resisting arrest. He is being held at the Rockland County Jail on $50,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, Nov. 4.

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