An Egg Harbor Township man with more than two dozen convictions was arrested after he allegedly brandished a knife at shoppers and passing motorists in Pleasantville.
Police arrived at the Pleasantville Shopping Center just before 1 p.m., and saw Michael Kodan with a large knife in a sheath on his belt, Lt. Stacey Schlachter said.
When Officer Kendall Washington approached him, Kodan fled on a bike, according to the report.
Kodan rode through the Atlantic City Cemetery and on to the Black Horse Pike, Schlachter said.
Washington and K-9 Officer Matt Laielli tackled Kodan in the area of Route 9 and the Black Horse Pike, knocking the 59-year-old man off his bike, according to the report.
Laielli subdued Kodan, who was disarmed by Washington, Schlachter said.
Washington was injured during the arrest. Egg Harbor Township Patrolman Kevin Brady immediately rendered aid to the officer, Schlachter said.
The officer was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's City Campus by TriCare EMS. She was treated and released.
Kodan was charged with aggravated assault, resisting, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, obstruction, terroristic threats, criminal mischief and certain person not to have a weapon.
He was taken to the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending a detention hearing.
Kodan has a criminal history dating to a 1991 burglary, court records show.
He was barred from Atlantic City casinos after being arrested and convicted 10 times for crimes inside casinos between 2011 and 2012, according to the Division of Gaming Enforcement's exclusion list.
Kodan has been arrested on violations of that exclusion, including a conviction in 2017, when he was sentenced to two years' probation, court records show.
