A man who allegedly switched seats once stopped by West Amwell police was charged with drunken driving Nov. 8 at about 2:22 a.m.
Patrolman Jonathan Sellner stopped a vehicle on Route 179 for a motor vehicle violation. Before the stop, the officer said he saw the driver and the passenger switch seats.
The officer spoke with the driver, James Garnett Jr., 22, from Flemington, and determined he was intoxicated, police said. Mr. Garnett also was charged with several motor vehicle offenses and hindering apprehension. He was released without bail.
• West Amwell Patrolman Joseph Cesare stopped a vehicle driven by Jose Marcial, 36, from Lansdale, Pennsylvania, on Route 202 for a suspected motor vehicle violation Nov. 5 at about 11:10 a.m.
A computer check showed Mr. Marcial had a pending traffic warrant from Mount Laurel Municipal Court for $378. Mr. Marcial was released after posting bail.
• Detective Edward Skillman stopped a vehicle driven by Louis Chiodo, 57, from New Providence, on Route 179 for a motor vehicle violation Nov. 6 at about 9:32 p.m.
While speaking with Mr. Chiodo, the detective detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana, police said. Mr. Chiodo was charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and several motor vehicle summonses. Mr. Chiodo was released without bail.
• Nov. 8 at about 2:39 p.m. Patrolman Anthony Goccia stopped a vehicle driven by Jose Delgado for a motor vehicle violation on Route 179.
A computer check showed Mr. Delgado had a pending traffic warrant from Trenton Municipal Court for $200. Mr. Delgado was released after posting bail.
• Patrolman Cesare stopped a vehicle driven by Anand Balija, 29, from Piscataway, on Route 202 for a motor vehicle violation Nov. 30, at about 1:38 a.m.
Mr. Balija was charged with drunken driving. He also was issued several motor vehicle summonses and released without bail.
• Nov. 23 at about 10:32 p.m. Patrolman Sellner was patrolling Route 202 and saw a vehicle traveling south exceeding the speed limit. Patrolman Sellner tried to stop the vehicle and after briefly slowing down on the shoulder, the vehicle increased its speed, and the driver refused to stop, police said.
Patrolman Sellner had Hunterdon County Communications alert Bucks County police as the vehicle entered Pennsylvania. A short time later, he was advised Buckingham Township police had stopped the vehicle and had the driver, Bereket Gebre, 19, from Washington, D.C., in custody.
Patrolman Sellner charged Mr. Gebre with eluding and issued a warrant with a bail amount of $35,000. Mr. Gebre was issued multiple motor vehicle summonses. He was lodged in the Bucks County Prison pending extradition to Hunterdon.
The county prosecutor’s office said last week that Mr. Gebre tried to escape from the county jail over the Thanksgiving Day weekend and also was charged with escape, a second-degree crime, and criminal mischief, a fourth-degree crime.
According to Prosecutor Anthony Kearns III, corrections officers discovered damage inside Mr. Gebre’s cell, which prompted an investigation that found Mr. Gebre allegedly damaged his cell while trying to escape.
Mr. Gebre was re-housed, and the area was secured.
Municipal Court Judge Eric J. Perkins set Mr. Gebre’s bail at $50,000 for the escape and mischief charges in addition to the bail for the eluding charge.

