Man Fleeing In RV Calls 911 In Howell To Proclaim Innocence

HOWELL, NJ — A Delaware man who tried to flee police in an RV following a dispute at a Howell dealership called 911 to plead his innocence when police tried to stop him on Interstate 195.

Jacob Konikov, 65, of Dover, Delaware, was arrested in the incident, which happened Wednesday, Howell police said in a post on Facebook.

Police responded to a call about 4:15 p.m. of a person who left Risco RV, at the corner of Route 547 and Route 524a, in a 52,000-pound camper following a dispute and allegedly tried to run over an employee.

Howell Patrolman John Barroqueiro saw the camper a short time later and tried to pull it over, police said. But when Barroqueiro tried to talk to Konikov, he pulled the camper away and got onto Interstate 195.

Barroqueiro followed in his patrol car but Konikov refused to stop. As Howell police deployed devices near Route 9 to flatten the tires of the camper, Konikov decided to stop.

He then called 9-1-1 to proclaim his innocence. Communications transferred him to Lt. Joseph Markulic, who convinced him to surrender and to comply with the officers' commands.

Konikov was arrested without incident and taken to police headquarters, where he was charged with second-degree eluding and several motor vehicle offenses, police said.

The investigation could not determine if he actually attempted to run over the employee.

Konikov was released pending his initial court appearance.

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