2010 police chase leads to charges vs. four men

On May 16, a grand jury sitting in Freehold Borough returned a 23- count indictment against four Jersey City men for a May 23, 2010 crime spree that began with a man being held at gunpoint and ended with a two-car collision where four of five family members traveling in one car were injured.

The defendants will be arraigned before state Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci Jr. at a later date, according to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

The indictment was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the prosecutor’s office, the Freehold Township Police Department and the Manalapan Police Department. The indictment charged each defendant, all from Jersey City, as follows:

 Justin Bello, 21, one count of eluding law enforcement; one count of aggravated assault; four counts of aggravated assault while eluding law enforcement; two counts of assault by auto; one count of obstruction of justice; and one count of resisting arrest.

 Troy Clarke, 33, one count of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose; one count of unlawful possession of a weapon; one count of aggravated assault by pointing a firearm; one count of resisting arrest; one count of eluding law enforcement; one count of hindering arrest; and one count of obstruction of justice.  Kevin Burke, 31, one count of resisting arrest; eluding law enforcement; and obstruction of justice.

 Anthony Serrano, 37, one count of resisting arrest; eluding law enforcement; and obstruction of justice.

The investigation revealed that on May 23, 2010, the four defendants drove a Ford Explorer to the home of a Freehold man and encountered him outside, where Clarke ordered the man to his knees while pointing a handgun at him.

The defendants returned to their vehicle and fled the scene after learning that a concerned citizen had called 911 to report the incident. While traveling on Route 9 north, the defendants disposed of the handgun by tossing it from the vehicle. The gun was later recovered by law enforcement authorities after a concerned citizen located the weapon, according to the press release.

The investigation further revealed that after the 911 call was placed, a police pursuit ensued on Route 9 north in Freehold Township and continued into Manalapan. The defendants fled at a high rate of speed, weaving in and out of traffic, in an effort to elude the responding police officers.

Consequently, the defendants’ vehicle collided into the rear of another vehicle, became wedged together, and struck a utility pole. After the collision, the defendants attempted to flee from their vehicle. However, Clarke, Burke and Serrano were arrested shortly after the collision. Bello was arrested the following day near a condominium complex in Manalapan.

Four of five passengers traveling in the other vehicle, including three children, were injured as a result of the defendants’ actions, according to the press release. One of the children sustained serious injuries and required extensive reconstructive surgery.