Hopatcong Man Who Fled Cop On Motorcycle Tracked Down Through Social Media, Surveillance

HOPATCONG, NJ — A Hopatcong man who fled a traffic stop on a motorcycle and drove recklessly in oncoming traffic was tracked down through a Facebook Marketplace listing and surveillance footage, Newton Police said Wednesday.

John Sanchez Jr., 24, was charged May 13 with eluding, obstruction and disorderly conduct, along with multiple motor vehicle violations.

According to police, Patrolman Brandon Posey stopped Sanchez Jr. on a motorcycle in the early morning hours of April 28 after observing a traffic violation. The motorcycle pulled into a parking garage at 225 Spring Street, where Sanchez Jr. allegedly refused to comply with the officer's commands and fled at a high rate of speed.

The motorcycle was last seen traveling in the wrong lane of traffic before it left the officer's sight.

Investigators subsequently identified Sanchez Jr. and the motorcycle — a dark-colored Yamaha found to be displaying a fictitious license plate.

Authorities said Sanchez Jr. had been advertising the motorcycle for sale on Facebook Marketplace, and that surveillance footage gathered during the investigation further connected him to the incident.

He was arrested May 13 with the assistance of the Hopatcong Police Department.

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