A man was caught with 21 ecstacy pills after recklessly driving a stolen car through Bayonne, nearly hitting a police vehicle and traveling in the wrong lane, authorities said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Antwon M. Cooper, 44, of Elizabeth, was charged with receiving stolen property, eluding, obstructing a governmental function, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled dangerous substance (ecstacy), and contempt, according to Police Capt. Eric Amato.
Cooper was taken into custody yesterday at about 6:49 p.m. from the area of 5th Street and Avenue C resulting from a vehicular pursuit he initiated with Bayonne police detectives.
Detectives seated in their parked vehicle in the area of 11th Street and Avenue C observed a vehicle traveling southbound at an extremely high rate of speed that almost struck their car.
The vehicle then proceeded to travel southbound in the northbound lane, almost causing a crash.
The detectives followed the vehicle and attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop as the vehicle continued to be operated in a reckless manner by failing to stop at red traffic lights and accelerating in an effort to elude the police.
A pursuit ensued but, due to safety concerns to the public, it was terminated shortly after, Amato also noted.
A short time later, the vehicle was observed by detectives turning onto a dead end street off of JFK Boulevard and the driver, later identified as Cooper, exited and began fleeing on foot.
The detectives immediately gave chase on foot as they ordered Cooper to stop fleeing and that he was under arrest. He disregarded their commands and continued his flight until ultimately being apprehended in the area of 5th Street and Avenue C.
Cooper resisted arrest by tensing his arms in an effort to not be handcuffed/arrested. He was ultimately placed into handcuffs and taken into custody. The search incident to arrest led to the recovery of 21 pills of ecstasy.
The investigation also led to the discovery that the vehicle displayed fictitious plates and was stolen out of Jersey City on the same day.
During the arrest process, Cooper was also found to be wanted on three outstanding warrants: one out of Elizabeth, one out of Mountainside, one out of Union County Superior Court, police said.
