Man believed to be on PCP bites off own finger and swallows it after naked carjack try, authorities say

By Ron Zeitlinger/The Jersey Journal
on October 22, 2012 at 1:25 PM, updated October 22, 2012 at 11:52 PM

Email | Print

Enlarge Ron Zeitlinger/The Jersey Journal Jargget Washington, 29, of Jersey City, who police say stripped naked and tried to carjack a driver at West Side and Communipaw avenues. Man strips naked in carjack try, then bites off finger and swallows it: cops gallery (8 photos)

A Jersey City man believed to be high on PCP tried to gnaw off his own wrist in a holding cell, defecated in the back of a Jersey City police cruiser and then bit off his own finger and swallowed it at Hudson County jail Sunday night, authorities said. Jargget Washington, 29, of Union Street, is charged with carjacking, throwing bodily fluids at law enforcement officers and being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance.
Police say that Washington stripped naked at the intersection of Communipaw and West Side avenues and started pounding his fists on cars and screaming incoherently.
Washington also tried to pull a driver out of a car at the intersection after he jumped on the hood and roof of the car, police said. The driver managed to fight off Washington
before police arrived at 7:54 p.m.
When policed arrived, Washington took up a fighting stance and said "Come on, come on," to cops, reports said. Washington was restrained and brought to the Jersey City Medical Center, where he was medically and psychologically cleared, police said.
While in a holding cell and still handcuffed, Washington became belligerent and began to spit at officers and ate the medical bracelet issued by the JCMC, police said. In an attempt to escape his handcuffs, Washington then began chewing on his own wrists, police said.
After refusing to cooperate with police, the 29-year-old was placed in a spit hood and leg irons, police said. He again was brought to the JCMC and later cleared to be processed by police.
It was on the way to the jail that Washington, still in hospital garb, defecated in the back of the police cruiser, police said. While at the jail, Washington bit off one of his fingers and swallowed it, a spokesman for the county confirmed.
Jail officials could not immediately be reached for more details on the incident and Washington's condition. Washington is currently being treated and evaluated at the Jersey City Medical Center.
"When (Washington) was released the hospital felt that he wasn't a threat to himself or others," hospital spokesman Mark Rabson said.
Washington served slightly more than three years for selling drugs, according to Department of Corrections records. He was released in January.
PCP, or phencyclidine, can cause hallucinations and make the user extremely violent.