Bayonne, NJ-Bayonne man slashes off-duty police officer’s neck outside Jersey City bar

Bayonne, NJ-A Bayonne man has been charged with attempted murder after he slashed an off-duty Jersey City police officer’s neck during a dispute outside a bar early Saturday morning.

Michael Devaney, 34, was also charged with two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

“Michael Devaney is a hard-working family man,” said Brian Neary, Devaney’s attorney. “We are going to make sure we find out all the circumstances regarding the incident.”

The off-duty police officer told Jersey City police that he and another another off-duty officer were leaving South House on Newark Avenue sometime before 2:50 a.m. when they got into an argument with three men, the criminal complaint said. The argument escalated and Devaney “pulled out a knife and slashed” one of the off-duty Jersey City officers in the neck, causing a 2-inch laceration, the complaint said.

Devaney was arrested after he was identified by the two officers. Police did not recover a weapon, the complaint said. It is believed there is at least one video that shows at least part of the confrontation.