According to authorities, an Alabama woman was arrested in in Mahwah after fleeing police. The incident began around 5:30am when a Ringwood police officer approached a Ford Explorer that was parked at the Ringwood State Park. The woman, 40 year-old Lakisha Maldonado of Leeds, Alabama sped off injuring the officer. Another officer who arrived as backup attempted to chase Maldonado, but she fled onto Route 287 toward the New York state line. Her car then became disabled near the final exit in New Jersey.
When Officers from the Ringwood Police Department approached her vehicle, she allegedly fired three rounds at them but missed. She was arrested and charged with attempted murder, eluding, resisting arrested, and weapons charges. She is being held in the Bergen County Jail but she also faces charges in Passaic County. Click here to read more at www.northjersey.com.
The state of New Jersey handles eluding cases very seriously and penalties can be severe. Eluding is codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2b, which provides:
b. Eluding. Any person, while operating a motor vehicle on any street or highway in this State or any vessel on the waters of this State, who knowingly flees or attempts to elude any police or law enforcement officer after having received any signal from such officer to bring the vehicle or vessel to a full stop commits a crime of the third degree; except that, a person is guilty of a crime of the second degree if the flight or attempt to elude creates a risk of death or injury to any person.
(NOTE: It shall be inferred that the flight or attempt to elude created a risk of death or injury to any person if the actor s conduct involved a violation of Title 39, Chapter 4 meaning, for example, that if the actor was Driving While Intoxicated (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50), it is inferred that the flight or attempt to elude created a risk of death or injury and, thereby, the crime will be charged as a second degree.)
A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of between 5 and 10 years in New Jersey State Prison.
A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 5 years in New Jersey State Prison.
In addition to the above penalties, an Eluding conviction also carries with it a mandatory license suspension for a period of between 6 months and 2 years.
If you find yourself or a loved one in the position that you are charged with eluding, don’t delay in hiring legal representation. Alissa D. Hascup is skilled and experienced at defending countless individuals charged with eluding in towns like Paterson, Clifton and Wayne. Contact her office for a free consultation about your case. She is available 24/7 at 862-257-1200.
