A driver was charged with DUI and three passengers who fled the traffic stop were arrested when they went to the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office to retrieve the towed vehicle, authorities said.
The Union City incident left a sheriff’s officer with two broken knees when he tripped and fell while chasing one of the three people who fled, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office said. The officer is expected to require one to two years to recover from the injuries.
“Every day, our officers put their lives on the line to protect our community and it is always horrible when an officer is hurt in the line of duty,” said Sheriff Frank Schillari. “I wish this officer a speedy and full recovery and thank them for their dedicated service.”
D’Andre Velazquez, 21, of North Bergen, was charged with DUI after his Nissan Maxima was pulled over at Fifth Street and Palisade Avenue on Jan. 6 because it had tinted front windows and was missing its a front license plate, officials said.
When Velazquez was placed in the police cruiser and the passengers — Kenia L. Morales of North Bergen, Juan S. Lopez of Union City and a juvenile — were told that the vehicle was being towed, the juvenile took the keys and all three fled, officials said.
Members of the sheriff’s office Detective Bureau searching the vehicle found a handgun in plain view in the back seat, officials said. At the same time, the sheriff’s officer chasing the juvenile fell and was rushed into emergency surgery.
Lopez and Morales also escaped captured, but the three of them were arrested when they returned to the headquarters of the sheriff’s office to retrieve Velazquez’s car.
The juvenile was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, obstruction of administrative law and resisting arrest in addition to weapons charges. He was taken to the Morris County Juvenile Detention Center.
Velazquez, Lopez and Morales were each charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, according to the criminal complaints.