New Jersey: New Brunswick man charged with ramming Spotswood police car
A New Brunswick man is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail after he allegedly rammed a police car, struck other vehicles and drove across the lawn of a school during a chase through the borough on Wednesday evening.
Walter Benson, 51, was taken to the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center in North Brunswick after he was charged with aggravated assault by auto, assaulting a police officer, eluding, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and various motor vehicle violations.
The chase started at about 5:42 p.m. Wednesday when Patrolmen Michael Genovese and John Berlingieri responded to the area of Beebe Avenue on a report of a suspicious vehicle, a silver Mitsubishi. Berlingieri saw the silver Mitsubishi on Appleby Avenue.
When the driver of the Mitsubishi, later identified as Benson saw the patrol car approaching, he turned off all of his vehicle lights, then sped away, running stop signs on Beebe Avenue, Kane Avenue and Adirondack Avenue, police said.
When Benson continued speeding toward Schoenly Elementary School, Berlingieri attempted to stop him. But when Benson reached Schonely School, the Mitsubishi cut across the roadway, drive over the curb and onto the front lawn of the school, police said. Benson then drove on the lawn around the side and rear of the school where it crashed into a fence and a bench, police said.
When Genovese arrived in his patrol car, Benson accelerated and intentionally rammed into the side of Genovese’s patrol car, police said.
After ramming the patrol car, Benson drove southbound on Kane Avenue, swerving from side to side at a high rate of speed. Benson struck another vehicle, parked on the side of Kane Avenue as he continued south, according to police.
Benson turned right onto Burlington Avenue and drove westbound at a high rate of speed, swerving from side to side. He then drove through the stop sign at Burlington Avenue and Adirondack Avenue, then swerved onto the shoulder and struck another parked car, police said. Benson’s car then came to an abrupt stop and Berlingeiri’s patrol car slid into the Mitsubishi, police said.
Benson then got out of the car and fled on foot, with Berlingieri and Genovese in pursuit. When the officers caught up with Benson, he allegedly resisted arrest, and there was a brief struggle before he was finally handcuffed.
Genovese was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick by Spotswood EMS where he was treated for minor injuries.
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