Cops Search Woods Near Hoboken Housing Authority After Men Flee

HOBOKEN, NJ — Police conducted a search of a wooded area near the Hoboken Housing Authority on Sunday after a pair of men fled a marijuana-related arrest, authorities said.

According to the Hoboken Police Department, the incident took place around 9:38 a.m. on the 300-block of Marshall Drive when two officers on patrol came across a parked Honda CRV.

As they approached the car, the officers saw marijuana in “plain view” and witnessed the passenger, Jourdan Maldonado, 22, of Newark, crumble a cigar leaf in his palm in an effort to hide it, authorities said.

Police told Maldonado to get out of the car so he could be placed under arrest. As an officer attempted to handcuff Maldonado, he escaped and fled the scene, authorities said.

At that point, the driver, Peter Fresse, 24, of Hoboken, also took off running in a different direction, authorities said.

The officers chased after Maldonado, eventually losing him in a wooded area behind the Hoboken Housing Authority. Over the next 30 minutes, Hoboken officers and two K-9 units from the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office searched the area, eventually finding him hiding under a vehicle nearby.

An officer was treated by an ambulance for a minor injury, authorities said.

Police charged Maldonado with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, hindering apprehension, tampering with evidence, possession with intent to distribute CDS (marijuana), possession with intent to distribute CDS (marijuana) within 500 feet of public housing, possession with intent to distribute CDS (marijuana) within 1,000 feet within a school and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Maldonado also had three outstanding warrants from Hoboken, Elmwood Park and Passaic.

Fresse was charged with possession with intent to distribute CDS (marijuana), possession with intent to distribute CDS (marijuana) within 500 feet of public housing, possession with intent to distribute CDS (marijuana) within 1,000 feet within a school, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Fresse was still at-large as of Monday, police said. Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact the Hoboken Police Department at 201-420-2100.

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