JACKSON – A resident of Lakewood has been charged with eluding police and motor vehicle violations following his involvement in a police pursuit in Jackson.
Police said that at 2:07 a.m. Oct. 26, Officer Keith French was on patrol near a convenience store on West County Line Road. He observed a 2010 Honda in the store’s parking lot and upon obtaining information about the vehicle, learned that the registered owner had a suspended driver’s license and that there was a wanted alert for the vehicle.
French parked in a nearby parking lot and observed the Honda pull out of the convenience store parking lot. Police said the driver of the Honda sped past the location where French was parked.
The officer followed the Honda and observed the driver pass through several stop signs without stopping. Police said the driver did not use turn signals as he made his way to Citadel Drive and to South New Prospect Road.
Police said the driver was still speeding as French activated his car’s emergency lights in an attempt to stop the Honda. The driver continued speeding on South New Prospect Road, through the intersection of Brewers Bridge Road.
The Honda approached a speed of about 100 mph as it passed another car and then turned off its headlights as it approached the intersection of Aldrich Road, according to police.
The Honda went through the intersection and as the driver attempted to negotiate a sharp curve in the road, he struck a curb, lost control of the vehicle and crashed into an embankment in front of a home on North New Prospect Road.
As French pulled up on the scene, he observed the male driver and a passenger exit the vehicle and run toward the backyard of a home. The officer gave chase while ordering the suspects to stop.
After a short foot pursuit, he apprehended a man who was identified as the driver, Kevin McCutcheon, 26, of Lakewood, and took him into custody, according to police.
Police said the passenger fled into a wooded area and was not able to be located. There were no injuries reported as a result of the incident.
Officers searched the Honda and found 20 decks of a substance believed to be heroin and a glass pipe, according to police.
McCutcheon was charged with second degree eluding, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and multiple motor vehicle offenses.
Police learned McCutcheon had outstanding warrants for his arrest out of Jackson, Toms River, Howell and Ocean County. Bail was set at $75,000 and he was initially placed in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River.
Sgt. Michael Friedman and officers Tristan Bennett, Shannon Foote and Craig Lindenberg assisted in the investigation.