PLAINSBORO: Patient who stole hospital van faces several charges

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO — A Hamilton Township man who bolted from the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro and stole a van from the hospital March 3 is facing a raft of charges from police in Plainsboro Township and Brielle Borough.
Allen J. Hall, 57, of Hamilton Township, was charged with theft by the Plainsboro Township Police Department, and driving while intoxicated, resisting arrest and other charges by the Brielle Police Department in Monmouth County.
Mr. Hall was a patient in a secured area at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro, but was able to leave the hospital without being discharged, Plainsboro police said. He found an unlocked van in the hospital parking lot that had the keys in the ignition.
Mr. Hall drove away from the hospital and ended up in Brielle. A Brielle police officer tried to stop Mr. Hall, according to Brielle police reports. Mr. Hall eventually stopped the van, and when the officer ordered him out of the van, he refused.
After the Brielle Police Department’s investigation revealed that the van had been taken from the hospital, the Plainsboro Township Police Department was notified about the stolen van. Plainsboro police charged Mr. Hall with theft and bail was set at $10,000.
The Brielle Police Department charged Mr. Hall with driving while intoxicated, resisting arrest, eluding arrest for failing to stop his car, theft, unlawful taking of a means of conveyance, driving with a suspended driver’s license and reckless driving.
Mr. Hall was taken to the Monmouth County jail after he could not post $10,000 bail.