A Brooklyn NY man was recently arrested after almost running over a police officer while fleeing Garden the State Plaza in Paramus NJ.
Paramus police officers were summoned to the Garden State Plaza to investigate 28-year-old Jamaal Freeman’s involvement in possible credit card fraud at the department store Lord & Taylor. As officers were conducting their inquiry, Mr. Freeman fled the scene. According to police, Mr. Freeman attempted to drive off in a Nissan Altima with North Carolina license plates.
Police said that one of the officers was nearly hit by Mr. Freeman’s car as Mr. Freeman tried to escape. Police believe that Mr. Freeman intentionally drove the car toward the officer in an effort to hit him.
After allegedly trying to hit the officer, Mr. Freeman drove away, following Paramus Road to Passaic Street. When Mr. Freeman arrived at a dead end in Rochelle Park NJ, he abandoned the car to continue his getaway on foot. After climbing fences and maneuvering his way through a residential neighborhood, Mr. Freeman was eventually apprehended by Paramus police and Rochelle Park police.
Mr. Freeman faces charges for aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest,eluding, and possession of fraudulent credit cards.
In New Jersey, eluding is governed under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2(b). The statute prohibits any person, while operating a motor vehicle, from fleeing a police or law enforcement officer. As set forth by the statute, eluding is typically a third degree crime. However, if an offender creates a risk of death or injury to another person while eluding, the charge can be elevated to a second degree offense. In this case, Mr. Freeman’s attempt to elude created a serious risk of injury to a police officer. As a result, Mr. Freeman could be charged with eluding in the second degree, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of between five (5) and ten (10) years in New Jersey State Prison.
Mr. Freeman was being held at Bergen County Jail in lieu of $50,000.00 bail.
To learn more about this case, see the NJ.com article entitled “Police: Brooklyn Man Tried to Hit Paramus Officer During Wild Chase Outside Mall.”
