MILTON – Two teenagers were arrested following an incident which resulted in the assault of a Town of Marlborough Police officer.

Sergeant Gerald Cocozza suffered a broken right leg while struggling with one of the apprehended defendants, identified by police as Anthony Runza, Jr., 16, of Highland. He was charged with second-degree assault, and other crimes.

The incident began at about 9:30 pm on Friday, May 14, when Marlborough Police responded to a complaint of a loud party at 16 Ridgecrest Drive in Milton.   When they got there, officers encountered several youths. An investigation by Sgt. Cocozza and other officers led to the arrest of John Luongo, 17, a resident of that address.

Luongo was alleged to have provided alcoholic beverages to minors at the location and was charged with 15 counts of unlawfully dealing with a child, a misdemeanor. He was also charged with violating Ulster County’s social host law. That holds anyone 16 or older accountable for providing a location where minors illegally consume alcohol. 

Runza was arrested after becoming combative with officers during their investigation and that’s when the sergeant sustained his injury.

Runza was also charged with resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct.

Cocozza was transported by Mobile Life Ambulance to St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie where he was treated and released.

Both Luongo and Runza were remanded to Ulster County Jail.  Runza’s bail was set at $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond and Luongo’s was set at $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond.

Marlborough Police were assisted at the scene by New York State Police and the towns of Lloyd and Newburgh Police Departments.