JACKSON – A 45-year-old male resident of Jackson was arrested and charged with eluding police, resisting arrest and other violations after he allegedly ran a red light and sped away from police.
Jackson police reported that at 8:19 p.m. Jan. 13, Officer Robert Gravina was on patrol on West County Line Road when he observed a 2004 Mercury Sable exit the Bennetts Mills Plaza without stopping for a red light.
The driver then proceeded to travel at a high rate of speed. As Gravina began to follow the Mercury, he was able to determine it was traveling about 70 mph in a posted 40 mph zone.
At the intersection of Brewers Bridge Road, Gravina activated his patrol car’s emergency lights to conduct a motor vehicle stop. Police said the driver of the Mercury disregarded the officer, entered a jughandle and drove onto Brewers Bridge Road before stopping in the driveway of a business.
Police said after the driver stopped, he exited his vehicle and stood near the driver’s side door before getting back into the car and driving behind the business.
Gravina followed the Mercury, but terminated the pursuit when the driver went over several curbs and into a nearby restaurant’s parking lot in an attempt to elude the officer.
The investigation continued as officers responded to the Jackson residence of the registered owner of the Mercury to follow up on the incident.
Officer Greg Schmidt subsequently located the Mercury on North Boston Road and attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop, however, the driver disregarded the officer and another pursuit was initiated, according to police.
Schmidt pursued the vehicle onto Frank Applegate Road and the driver stopped at the intersection of Bennetts Mills Road.
Officer Kale Mabey arrived on scene as the officers began to approach the Mercury, at which time the driver accelerated and turned onto Bennetts Mills Road, nearly striking Mabey and causing him to jump out of the way, according to police.
The driver then turned into the Jackson Baptist Church parking lot and drove to the far end before he stopped. The driver exited his vehicle and was taken into custody after a struggle with the officers, according to police, who did not say what time the incident concluded.
The driver was charged with eluding police, resisting arrest, aggravated assault, driving while intoxicated, driving a vehicle in violation of an interlock device order, careless driving, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, failure to observe a traffic control device, failure to maintain lane and speeding. He was initially placed in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River.
