Biker Who Fled Bar Fight Between Women Arrested, Charged With Eluding: Howell Police

HOWELL, NJ — A motorcyclist who led police on a high-speed chase after a fight broke out when a woman came into a bar to yell at him Sunday night for being out drinking instead of being home with his child has been arrested, Howell police said Thursday.

John A. Murphy, 37, of Fort Avenue in the New Egypt section of Plumsted Township, was arrested Thursdand and charged with eluding police, Howell Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez said.

Murphy was positively identified as a result of anonymous tips the department received, Antunez said.

The incident happened about 8 p.m. Sunday.

The motorcyclist, now identified as Murphy, was at Tom's Tavern on Asbury Road having a drink when a woman, who was described as having a cast on her arm, came into the bar and started yelling at him for being at the bar drinking instead of being at home with his child, Howell Police Chief Andew Kudrick said Monday.

A second woman tried to intervene, and a fight ensued, police said. Murphy, realizing police were on the way, left the bar and was leaving the parking lot on a Harley Davidson motorcycle when police arrived, Kudrick said.

They ordered Murphy to stop, but he fled onto Route 547 and Interstate 195 toward Jackson, Kudrick said. Officers initially pursued him but aborted the chase as Murphy sped up to more than 100 mph and was driving recklessly, he said.

"Howell officers terminated the pursuit because the risk to all those involved, including the motorcyclist himself, outweighed his immediate apprehension," Kudrick said.

In his haste to depart, however, Murphy lost his helmet, Kudrick said. "We retrieved it as evidence and will submit for DNA (testing)."

The woman who came into the bar to yell at Murphy left the bar, police said, and they were unable to interview her.

Antunez said Howell police received numerous tips and tracked Murphy down at his home in New Egypt. He was arrested by Howell and Plumsted police about noon Thursday and charged with eluding, Antunez said. The motorcycle has not yet been found.

"We thank the public for their continued support and assistance to our organization and also thank the Plumsted and Seaside Heights police departments for their assistance," he said.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Howell police through their confidential tip line at www.p3tips.com.

Howell police say this biker helmet was dropped by the man who sped off after a fight at Tom's Tavern on Sunday evening. Photo courtesy of Howell Township Police