HOWELL – A resident of Plumsted Township has been arrested and charged with eluding police following his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred in Howell on Oct. 15.
Police said tips provided by members of the public led to the arrest of a 37-year-old man on Oct. 19. The suspect was placed in the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, after he was processed in Howell.
Police said the motorcycle that was involved in the incident on Oct. 15 had not been recovered as of Oct. 19.
The initial incident began at 8 p.m. Oct. 15 when Howell Police Communications received a 911 call from a person who was reporting a fight in progress at Tom’s Tavern on Asbury Road, according to a press release.
As officers arrived on scene, a motorcyclist was exiting the parking lot. An officer attempted to stop the driver, but the driver ignored the officer and left the business.
Additional Howell officers responding to the 911 call spotted the motorcyclist and also attempted to initiate a stop. The driver continued south on Route 547. Police described him as a heavyset white male, bald, with tattoos on his neck. He was operating a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
The driver proceeded onto Interstate 195 westbound, accelerated to more than 100 mph and operated his motorcycle in what police described as a reckless manner.
The Howell police officers terminated the pursuit because the risk to all those involved, including the motorcyclist, outweighed his immediate apprehension, according to the press release.
The driver continued into Jackson and lost his helmet at one point. Police retrieved the helmet as evidence and said they would submit it for DNA testing.
Police said the fight at Tom’s Tavern began when a woman, described as wearing a cast on her arm, came into the business, approached the man and indicated she was upset he was drinking instead of being home with his child. Another woman intervened and the fight ensued. The woman who was wearing the cast did not remain at the tavern, according to police.
In announcing the arrest, Howell Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez said, “We posted a press release on our Facebook page after the incident, which occurred on Oct. 15, and sought the public’s help in identifying the suspect.
“The public quickly responded and we received multiple anonymous tips through our anonymous tip line, P3tips, identifying the suspect. He was then positively identified, located at his home and arrested at noon on Oct. 19 without incident by Howell and Plumsted police officers.
“We thank the public for their continued support and assistance to our organization and also thank the Plumsted and Seaside Heights police departments for their assistance,” Antunez said.