Bergen County NJ resident Charged with Eluding
On Friday, December 1, 2012, Fort Lee police officers received a call stating that a BMW X5, black, with New York license plates had been stolen from a Steakhouse in the local area. Soon after receiving the call, Timothy Cullen, a Fort Lee police officer, saw the vehicle on Bridge Plaza North. He watched the vehicle, and saw that it was being pursued by a black Mercedes E350. These two vehicles drove off at high speeds towards the George Washington Bridge.
Officer Cullen followed behind both vehicles for a short while, before trying to make a traffic stop. Neither vehicle complied, and the drivers of both vehicles tried to elude officer Cullen. These vehicles traveled southbound on River Road, into Edgewater. Eventually the BMW ran into officer Cullen’s police cruiser. This resulted in a three car accident. According to Sgt. Kenneth Porrino officer Cullen’s police vehicle was left disabled, as was the Mercedes which as also involved in the accident.
On exiting his vehicle Officer Cullen ordered that the two passengers in the Mercedes vehicle exit their car. However, these two individuals ignored the police officers’s clear warning, and they hopped into the BMW, that was now waiting for them on Maple Street. The BMW then drove north towards Fort Lee. There it hit a second police vehicle. Other police cruisers continue to pursue the BMW, but they stopped the pursuit just prior to entering into Newark, New Jersey.
If an arrest is ever made by Bergen County law enforcement, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office will most likely charge the defendants with second degree eluding and assault by auto. The governing statute in New Jersey for eluding is N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2b and as the statute dictates, this type of offense is a second degree felony. If convicted of a second degree offense in New Jersey the defendant will face up to ten years in a state prison. Assault by Auto on the other hand is a crime of the third degree and if convicted the defendant may face up to five years in a New Jersey State Prison. These are very serious offenses and they require the skill of an experienced Bergen County Criminal Defense Attorney. The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall has been defending individuals charged with these types of offenses throughout Bergen County for over fifteen years. If you or someone you know has any questions about this offense or any other criminal offenses for that matter please contact any one of our Bergen County Offices and speak to one of our eight experienced criminal defense attorneys.