EDISON — A 20-year-old North Carolina man has been charged with attempted murder after he fired a handgun at police during a police chase, according to police.
Jesse D. Namotka, of Sylva, North Carolina, is being held at the Middlesex County Corrections Center in North Brunswick on $250,000 bail, police said.
Police have charged him with attempted murder; threatening to commit murder, carjacking, criminal restraint, four firearms possession charges; theft; possession and intent to distribute heroin and cocaine; leaving the scene of an accident and eluding police.
The incident began at 12:45 p.m. on Nov. 21 when Namotka’s cousin, Jessica Namotka, 37, leaped from the passengerside door of a gray Jeep Cherokee while it slowed down in traffic on Route 1 near Wooding Avenue, according to police.
Jessica Namotka, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, later told police she was trying to flee from Jesse after he allegedly commandeered her Jeep and had taken her against her will, police said.
Her escape caused Jesse Namotka to collide with another vehicle that was stopped in Route 1 traffic and he fled from the accident scene, police said.
Moments later, Police Officer Nicholas Bayne observed the damaged Jeep with a flat rear tire heading north on Route 1.
As Bayne attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop, a chase ensued that ended when Namotka lost control of the Jeep along Amboy Avenue near Franklin Avenue, according to police.
Namotka surrendered to police. During the arrest, police said they found a dozen packets of heroin, small bags of rock cocaine, and a packet of cocaine powder in Namotka’s trouser pockets.
Police Officer Erwin Enriquez found two handguns — a revolver and a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun — inside the Jeep. Through an investigation, it was determined that the revolver had been reported stolen and serial numbers were scratched off the .45-caliber handgun, according to police.
Officers also found several bullet holes and slugs from the revolver in the vehicle’s backseat indicating that Namotka allegedly tried to shoot at pursuing patrol cars during the chase, police said.
In addition to Edison’s charges, police said Namotka was wanted for a parole violation in connection with a robbery in another jurisdiction. Other charges may be filed against Namotka pending the outcome of Edison’s continuing investigation into the incident, police said.
Jessica Namotka was treated at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for minor injuries she sustained when she jumped from the Jeep and fell onto the pavement along Route 1, police said.