STAFFORD — A 19-year-old Hunterdon County man is wanted after police said he fled a traffic stop on Route 72, drove recklessly through traffic and later abandoned his vehicle after crashing on the Garden State Parkway.
Stafford Township police said Patrolman Otte stopped a gray Honda Accord at about 7:35 p.m. July 4 near Route 72 and Marsha Drive after seeing the driver urinating from the vehicle while stopped in traffic.
The driver initially pulled over, but police said he drove away as Otte got out of his patrol vehicle. The stop was immediately ended under department policy.
Minutes later, Patrolman Forlenza spotted the same vehicle heading west on Route 72 at a high rate of speed, weaving through traffic, driving on the shoulder and nearly causing several crashes, police said. Due to the danger posed to the public, Forlenza attempted another traffic stop and requested permission to pursue the vehicle.
Forlenza, assisted by SMPO Brown, followed the vehicle north on the Garden State Parkway. Police said the pursuit was ended near mile marker 77 because of heavy traffic and because the registered owner had been identified as the driver.
A short time later, New Jersey State Police notified Stafford officers that the vehicle had crashed near mile marker 94.8 on the Parkway and was abandoned. Troopers searched the area but did not find the driver.
Police identified the driver as Evan Perez, 19, of Milford. He was charged with lewdness, a disorderly persons offense; third-degree eluding; and second-degree eluding.
A warrant has been issued for Perez’s arrest and entered into the National Crime Information Center, police said.
The vehicle was towed to Stafford Township police headquarters, where it was secured pending a search warrant and further evidence processing.
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