Report: Man Threatens to Kill Police With AK-47 if Released; Released by Judge Under NJ Bail Reform

JERSEY CITY -- A self-described gang member assaulted a police officer and threatened two others after he was caught stealing more than $500 worth of merchandise from Macy's, authorities said.

A security guard at the Newport Centre mall department store stopped 19-year-old Davonta Barr on Sunday after the teenager ripped security tags and damaged the items he was attempting steal, according to a criminal complaint.

Jersey City police officers were called to the security office to report the theft. One of Barr's family members offered to pay for the damaged merchandise, but the store's law prevention officers said they wanted to file charges against the Claremont Avenue resident, the records state.

Barr then started acting "verbally belligerent and disrespectful," police said.

The 19-year-old elbowed one of the police officers in the face and wrapped his arms around the cop's leg in an attempt to throw him to the ground, the complaint states.

The officer was carrying a "back up pistol" in a holster around his leg and Barr grabbed for the gun's handle. Police were able to handcuff Barr before he had full control of the gun, according to the report.

Barr told one of the other officers he was a "big blood gang member" and that if the cop came around Claremont Avenue he would "shoot him down" with an AK-47, the court records show.

During his first court appearance Monday afternoon, Judge Cynthia Jackson told Barr the state motioned for pretrial detention.

"About the bracelet, how can I go about getting one?" Barr asked the judge.

Jackson told Barr that Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale would address his detention status during a hearing on Thursday.

He is charged with shoplifting, multiple counts of assault, disarming a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest.