A Jersey City cop struck a man with a police vehicle during a pursuit over a drug deal, a city spokeswoman said late this afternoon.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The officer, who was not yet identified, hit Jeremy Pearson, 31 with a police vehicle at the corner of Fulton and Bergen Avenues around 4 p.m. on Saturday, according to city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione.
“A JCPD officer observed Mr. Pearson running in his direction and attempted to tactically cut off his pathway by pulling his police vehicle up onto the sidewalk on the northeast corner of Fulton and Bergen Avenues,” she wrote in an email.
“Mr. Pearson was struck by the police vehicle traveling at a low rate of speed as the actor attempted to squeeze himself between the vehicle and a fence. Mr Pearson was held at the JCMC for review and released the next day. The entire incident was captured by CCTV and body-worn cameras.”
She continued that Pearson was held at the Jersey City Medical Center overnight and released the next day.
Pearson faces a slew of drug charges including manufacturing, possession and distribution charges, along with one count of obstruction of the administration of law, Wallace-Scalcione indicated.
The incident will be referred to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, which is standard procedure for any incident that includes use-of-fore.
Additionally, Christopher Peselli, 32, was placed under arrest for ingesting drugs during the investigation. He was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center for treatment and released.
As a result, he is charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and tampering with evidence.
A Facebook live video from the scene posted by Frank “Educational” Gilmore, a Ward F council candidate, shows an elderly man indicating that he was also struck by the police vehicle.
