Prison Time For Man Who Tried To Run Over NJ Officer Who Found Him Asleep: Officials

CLEMENTON, NJ — A Camden County man, whom officials say tried to run over a police officer who found him asleep at the wheel, has been sentenced to prison in Atlantic County.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced that 33-year-old Charleston Carter was sentenced to five years in New Jersey state prison on a charge of third-degree eluding police.

Officials say Carter, of Clementon, was in the driver's seat of a car parked in the left turn lane of a Galloway Township road on Nov. 23, 2019. A Galloway Township police officer saw that Carter and a passenger looked to be asleep, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

Officials say Carter opened his eyes, and put his vehicle in drive while the officer was talking to him, almost running over the officer.

Carter drove the red Chrysler van through four lanes of traffic and sped through the intersection, officials said.

Police found the van a short time later in the parking lot of a hotel. Carter ran away, and was arrested by K-9 officers, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

He was sentenced in Atlantic County Superior Court on Nov. 17, officials said.