Alleged Armed Union County Man Involved in Fatal Police Chase is Indicted

Rahway, NJ -- A Rahway man who allegedly led police on a vehicle pursuit that ended in the death of a South Orange man this past summer was indicted by a Union County grand jury today, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced.

Surpris Ophilien Jr., 30, was indicted today, Dec. 9 on charges of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree death by auto, second-degree eluding police, second-degree leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident, and two second-degree weapons offenses.

Elizabeth Police Department patrol units responded to the Allstar Nightclub on 3rd Street in Elizabeth on a report of an altercation around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, according to Union County Homicide Task Force Supervisor Michael Henn, who is prosecuting the case.

“On their way to the scene, two Elizabeth police officers in a patrol vehicle spotted a green GMC pickup truck being driven by Ophilien travel through a red light at a high rate of speed,” Henn said.

Ophilien led police on a brief vehicle pursuit until he started traveling the wrong way down a one-way street. Police ended the at the time.

Moments later, Ophilien collided with 25-year-old Edward Coleman of East Orange a short distance away, on an overpass for a ramp leading to North Avenue East in Elizabeth.

Ophilien, who was carrying a fully loaded .45-caliber handgun, climbed out of the wrecked pickup and ran a short distance, leaping from the overpass to the roadway below before being arrested, according to the report.

Coleman was rushed to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead several hours later.