According to police, a Western Essex County man was taken into custody after he led police in two municipalities on a pursuit early Sunday morning.
Fairfield Police officials said Mr. Nicholas Didio-Slaaen, 21, of Fairfield has been charged with Eluding police, Resisting arrest by flight, Obstruction of justice and 13 other motor vehicle violations incidents which occurred around midnight on Sunday.
According to a statement released by police, at approximately 12:13 am, NJ State Police were notified that multiple "high-end" vehicles gathered on Route 80 in an attempt to engage in racing.
Officials at NJSP notified Fairfield authorities to investigate the incident.
Police say units arrived at the Route 80 East entrance ramp in Montville, where they observed 20 vehicles that appeared to be staging along New Maple Avenue.
According to Fairfield authorities, officers observed a grey Dodge Charger, struck a 2020 Mazda MX5 and then reportedly sped away onto the eastbound lanes of Route 80.
Police say the driver of the Dodge vehicle, Mr. Nicholas Slaaen sped away from officers when they attempted to pull him over for the investigation.
During the course of the incident, police officials said Fairfield officers contacted Slaaen via his cellphone and demanded that he pull over and surrender, but Slaaen allegedly told police that he was not driving the car and his Dodge vehicle was in Toms River.
About an hour later, Livingston Police stopped the same Dodge Charger at 1:30 a.m. and made positive identification that Slaaen was the driver when they took him into custody and impounded the Dodge sports car, then Fairfield Police took over the case.
Slaaen was transported to the Essex County Jail in Newark.