Motor Vehicle Pursuit/ Arrests

On February 19, 2012, Patrolman Joel Muniz and Patrolman Sean Connor attempted to stop a vehicle that was traveling on Valley Road near Montclair State University. The vehicle in question, a 1999 Volkswagon Jetta, was tailgating another vehicle and had crossed over the double yellow lines several times. The officers activated the patrol vehicle's overhead lights in an attempt to alert the driver of the vehicle to pull over, however, the driver refused; instead, opting to accelerate and elude the officers. A motor vehicle pursuit ensued and continued onto the property of Montclair State University, during which time the object vehicle reached speeds of approximately 70 m.p.h. At one point in the pursuit, the driver of the suspect vehicle lost control and traveled into a wooded area on the campus. Officers continued to converge on the suspect vehicle when they realized that it had careened down an approximate 100 foot embankment. At this time, the officers approached the area on foot, when they observed at least two individuals fleeing from the vehicle. When the officers arrived at the spot where the object vehicle came to rest, they quickly apprehended one of the vehicle's occupants; specifically Brendan Guzman (18 y.o.a.) of Clifton. Numerous patrol units responded to assist in the search of the parties at large and worked in conjunction with the Montclair State University Police in an effort to apprehend them.

During the course of the investigation, officers learned that one of the occupants at large was a member of a college sport team. Comparing information found at the scene with a roster of the team researched via the internet, Sgt, Saggio identified the second suspect; specifically Pablo Zegarra (19 y.o.a.) of Montclair, and later arrested him at his dorm room. The third suspect, later identified as Oscar Gonzalez (19 y.o.a.) of Clifton, was determined to be the driver of the vehicle during the pursuit and was later apprehended at his residence.

Gonzalez was charged with Eluding an Officer (2nd Degree), Resisting Arrest (4th Degree), DWI, DWI in a School Zone, Underage Consumption of Alcohol, and a multitude of moving violations. Guzman was charged with Hindering the Apprehension of Another (3rd Degree) and Underage Consumption of Alcohol. Zegarra was charged with Resisting Arrest (4th Degree) and Underage Consumption of Alcohol.