EAST BRUNSWICK – A 52-year-old female resident of North Brunswick was charged with eluding police and aggravated assault after allegedly fleeing in her car from police officers on Sept. 4.
East Brunswick patrol units were dispatched to ShopRite at Midstate Mall, Route 18, just after 2:30 p.m. to investigate a report that a shoplifter was fleeing from the store’s loss prevention personnel with an undetermined amount of merchandise, according to police.
Dispatchers provided a description of the suspect and the vehicle. Detective Dennis Chieffo was at the Midstate Mall at the time, observed the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it behind the supermarket, police said.
The driver allegedly disregarded Chieffo’s emergency lights and siren and continued onto Tices Lane and then onto Route 18 northbound. Her vehicle got stuck in traffic near Edgeboro Road and Chieffo attempted to approach the vehicle on foot. The woman reportedly ignored Chieffo’s order to stop and open the door, according to police.
When Chieffo attempted to open the door, the woman allegedly accelerated and fled onto Old Bridge Turnpike, causing Chieffo to sustain what police described as a minor shoulder injury. The pursuit was continued by Patrolman Thomas Appell for a short distance onto Edgeboro Road before being terminated.
Police said the woman was later arrested at her residence in North Brunswick by North Brunswick officers. East Brunswick police charged her with eluding police and aggravated assault. The woman was placed in the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center, North Brunswick.
