A man crashed a U-Haul van into a North Bergen police vehicle, attempting to flee into the Meadowlands and getting apprehended after a large law enforcement response.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
This morning at approximately 2:10 a.m., a North Bergen police sergeant on patrol was in the area of Bove Terrace outside of his vehicle when his vehicle was struck by a stolen U-Haul van, according to North Bergen Police Lt. Bronson Jusino.
The sergeant made an attempt to conduct a motor vehicle stop but the vehicle fled west on Secaucus Road into Secaucus.
The officer determined he would not pursue the vehicle when he observed the vehicle driving at a high rate of speed heading towards the 15X New Jersey Turnpike entrance ramp in Secaucus.
Moments later, the vehicle was observed losing control and striking the side of a concrete wall. The vehicle had come to a stop in which an occupant in the van fled into the marsh area.
The sergeant drove in the direction of the vehicle and exited his vehicle to check on the driver’s condition, to find out he had fled on foot.
A passenger was observed and apprehended in the vehicle and was identified as Christopher Gonzalez, 26, of Franklin.
From there, it was determined that the driver had hopped over the wall into a swamp area. With the assistance of Secaucus PD, NJ Transit PD, NJ State Police, and Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, a perimeter was established.
While units attempted to search the swamp area for the suspect, North Hudson Regional Fire Department was requested to the scene to assist with lighting.
North Bergen police utilized the agency’s Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to locate the suspect that was entrenched in the high marsh area of the meadowlands.
With the guidance of the UAS, the officers on scene were able to enter the marsh area and located the suspect that was in a supine position hiding in the marsh.
North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue assisted with lighting, ladders, and safety harnesses to safely conduct our joint operation to safely apprehend the suspect.
The driver was subsequently transported to Jersey City Medical Center for evaluation due to complaint of pain. His identity has not been confirmed as of this release, pending live scan prints with criminal charges pending.
Gonzalez was charged with receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, eluding, and possession of burglar tools before being transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility, police said.
