SOUTH RIVER — Two men were arrested last week after they jumped into the South River while allegedly fleeing from police.
Tarik Jackson, 18, of New Brunswick, and Jamil Anthony, 22, of Newark, were charged at 8:44 p.m. Oct. 18 with receiving stolen property and being in possession of stolen property, police said.
The pursuit began after borough Police Officer Alfonso Saucedo, on routine patrol, observed a 1999 Volvo turn at the corner of Water Street and Russell Avenue without signaling to turn and failing to stop at the stop sign, South River Police Lt. John Casey said.
Saucedo followed the Volvo and learned that the registered motor vehicle had been reported stolen out of South Brunswick. As Saucedo attempted to stop the Volvo, the suspects accelerated onto the Causeway, police said.
“They drove over a curb and then they got stuck in the grass and mud,” Casey said.
Both occupants then got out of the vehicle, ran about 100 yards and jumped into the South River, police said.
“Officer Saucedo was able to apprehend Jackson; however, the second suspect was able to elude the officer at the time,” Casey said.
Police, with the help of officers from Sayreville, cordoned off the area. Boats from emergency services in Perth Amboy, South River and East Brunswick Fire District 1 participated in the search for the second suspect for about an hour and a half. At that point, the second suspect was found hiding in an area of high reeds, police said.
“He was arrested after a brief struggle,” Casey said.
Jackson and Anthony were each held in lieu of $50,000, with no 10 percent payment option, at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick.