High Speed Police Chase Leads To Arrest In Branchburg

BRANCHBURG, NJ — A high-speed police chase led to the arrest of a Bayonne man in Branchburg.

On Sept. 14 at about 3:09 p.m. a Branchburg officer tried to pull over a grey Nissan Altima driving north on Lamington Road for various traffic violations including speeding, said Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H.Robertson.

The car did not stop and continued speeding until the officer stopped the chase within a few minutes on Rattlesnake Bridge Road in Bedminster Township.

An investigation into the car and the driver revealed that the car had recently been "traded" in Branchburg Township by the vehicle's registered owner and a man who was later identified as Robert Raymond Piel Jr., 23, of Lorde Avenue, Bayonne.

The "trade" which consisted of exchanging vehicles was agreed upon through social media and later discovered that the documents provided to the owner of the Nissan Altima by Piel Jr. during the "trade" were fake, said Robertson.

On Monday, Oct. 18, the same Nissan Altima which fled from Branchburg Police was seen in Essex County being driven by Piel Jr. who was later arrested on unrelated charges.

On Oct. 21, Piel Jr. was formally charged by Branchburg Police with second-degree eluding and third-degree theft by deception. The Somerset County charges were lodged on Piel Jr. as a detainer. Piel Jr. was taken to the Essex County Jail.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact the Branchburg Police Department at 908-526-3830 or via the STOPit app.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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