By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — A local man and woman face numerous charges after trying to elude Lambertville police by fleeing over the free bridge and relying on the “invisible shield” of a state boundary, according to police.
Officers caught up with the pair in New Hope and took them into custody. They were later released and will receive summonses, police said.
Because of the driver’s refusal to stop for police, officers drew their weapons.
”When a person refuses to stop, it is common practice to draw their weapons,” Police Director Bruce Cocuzza said. He characterized the action as a matter of officer safety.
The passenger, 29-year-old Lisa K. Nutret, of West Amwell, repeatedly refused to get out of the vehicle as officers requested, according to Director Cocuzza.
The incident began at about 9:15 p.m. on Feb. 1, when Sgt. Robert Brown attempted to pull over the vehicle on Bridge Street, with his lights and siren on. He had noticed the 29-year-old driver, David Edward Wharton, of New Hope, failed twice to keep the vehicle from crossing over a yellow line, according to police.
Sgt. Brown and Officer Michael Miloszar followed the fleeing vehicle across the bridge. A New Hope police officer also responded.
Lambertville police charged Mr. Wharton with eluding police, driving without a license, driving while his license was suspended, careless driving, failure to stop for an emergency vehicle, failure to keep right, and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.
A field sobriety test showed “there wasn’t an issue of drunk driving,” Director Cocuzza said.
Police charged Ms. Nutret with hindering apprehension.
Director Cocuzza characterized the incident as “pretty routine.”
While Director Cocuzza estimated the speed of the officers’ patrol car as it crossed the bridge at 25 to 30 mph, approximately double the bridge’s 15-mph limit, “nobody was endangered” by the higher-than-normal rate of speed, he said.
He defended the officers’ crossing the bridge into Pennsylvania, saying, “Police have the authority to pursue interstate on a traffic infraction.”
Also, he added, the chase “wasn’t a pursuit” as defined by police.
”It wasn’t a pursuit because it was never broadcast” through the communications dispatch, Director Cocuzza said. “It began and ended within 30 seconds, and a couple or three turns and the guy pulled over.” Police “have the authority to go over the bridge, and the actions taken were proper.”
