Brick Man Flees Traffic Warrant Arrest; Police Officer Injured During Chase: Police

Lakewood, NJ -- A Lakewood police officer was injured late Thursday night chasing a Brick Township man who ran after police discovered he had an outstanding traffic warrant, police said Friday.

Justin Schneider, 26, of Brick Township, was among a group of men who were walking along Country Club Drive when Lakewood Officer Kevin Seunath approached while investigating a complaint of suspicious activity from a concerned citizen, Lakewood police said.

Seunath gathered preliminary information from the group, police said. An off-duty officer from a neighboring town, who saw Seunath was by himself, stood by until additional Lakewood police officers arrived, Lakewood police said.

During the encounter, it was learned that Schneider had an outstanding traffic warrant for his arrest out of East Orange, police said. Schneider immediately stood up and ran across four lanes of traffic on County Line Road, police said. Seunath and Officer Kevin Bell gave chase but lost sight of him in a residential backyard, police said.

During the chase, Seunath suffered a laceration to his arm while jumping over a 6-foot chainlink fence; the laceration required medical attention, police said.

Schneider faces charges of resisting arrest by flight, aggravated assault on a police officer and obstruction, Lakewood police said, in addition to the East Orange traffic warrant. Bail was set at $15,000 by Municipal Court Judge Scott Basen, police said.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Justin Schneider is urged to contact Detective Sgt. Greg Staffordsmith at 732-363-0200 ext 5318.

Justin Schneider via Lakewood Police Department