After refusing to pull over his vehicle for officers attempting to conduct a traffic stop, a man from Clifton, New Jersey is facing a host of charges, including: aggravated assault on a police officer, eluding, resisting arrest, hindering apprehension or prosecution, and possession of cocaine.
According to Detective Sergeant Robert Bracken, a spokesperson for the Clifton Police Department, 52-year-old Clifton resident Sefkija Muhametaj was driving a van along Circle Avenue at approximately 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4th, when an officer identified potentially invalid license plates on the vehicle. When the officer attempted to stop Muhametaj, he fled, and was subsequently pursued by police.
The lengthy chase ended after Muhametaj crashed the vehicle, continued to elude police officers on foot, and was eventually apprehended after an altercation with the officers pursuing him. Per reports, police also witnessed Muhametaj tossing cocaine out of the vehicle while attempting his getaway. This act is a criminal offense in New Jersey for multiple reasons, as the cocaine itself is evidence of cocaine possession and the act of attempting to destroy evidence constitutes a hindering apprehension or prosecution offense.
After receiving treatment at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Muhametaj was transferred to the Passaic County Jail, where he is currently being held, with his bail set at $150,000.
The crimes for which Muhametaj is accused could subject him to fines, a term of imprisonment, and, permanent charges on his criminal record, among other penalties, if he is ultimately found guilty. The degree of each charge will have a significant impact on the potential sentence associated with each offense. See the following page on my website for more information on sentencing ranges and presumptions.
For more information pertaining to this case, access the following article: Authorities: Clifton man crashed van in Rutherford, fought police after pursuit
