JACKSON – A man was arrested for impersonating a law enforcement officer and eluding police after tailing a woman from Six Flags Great Adventure to a local Shoprite, police said.
On August 19, Jackson Police responded to the ShopRite parking lot on North County Line Road after a woman had reported being followed by a suspicious person.
The woman called 9-1-1 stating that a man driving a 2018 Nissan had followed her vehicle from Six Flags Great Adventure, through random turns, all the way to the ShopRite. When she suspected the man of tailing her, she headed to the ShopRite instead of her home and called a family member to meet her there, police said.
Once she reached the parking lot, the man blocked the woman’s vehicle in with his own and attempted to enter her vehicle by pulling on the door handles. The man identified himself as a federal agent.
Shortly after, officers arrived on the scene. The man provided officers with a driver’s license, a Great Adventure coupon, and a handicapped placard, which he claimed were his law enforcement credentials.
“At this time he also had the windows of his vehicle rolled up and was refusing to exit the car or cooperate with the officers further. As patrol vehicles were being moved to prevent the suspect from leaving the scene, he abruptly backed his vehicle away and fled the scene, disregarding the officer’s orders to stop,” stated Captain Steven Laskiewicz.
Officers engaged in a vehicle pursuit as the suspect fled through the parking lot, over curbs and grass onto Cook Road and then out onto North County Line Road, reaching up to 80 mph. The pursuit was terminated as they neared Jackson Mills Road.
Police later located the suspect’s vehicle parked in the shoulder of the road near Firenze Road. After a struggle, the officers arrested the 59-year old male. He was then transported to an area hospital for treatment and evaluation before he was released, processed and lodged in the Ocean County Jail.
The man was charged with: eluding, impersonating a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, obstruction, harassment, speeding, reckless driving, careless driving and multiple other motor vehicle violations.
