Truck Thief Fled Police, Had Drugs: Washington Township Police

LONG VALLEY, NJ - A vehicle chase and foot pursuit led to the arrest of a man on eluding a drug charges on June 3, according to the Washington Township Police Department.

According to authorities, Corporal Thomas Falleni was on routine patrol in Califon Borough, traveling west on County Route 513, when saw a grey Dodge Pickup truck with New York license plates stopped in the middle of the westbound lane with its hazards on and the passenger outside of the vehicle.

Falleni activated his overhead emergency lights and as soon as he exited his patrol vehicle, the pickup truck fled at a high rate of speed, initiating a pursuit, police said.

The chase winded through Califon in Lebanon Township and the passenger fled on foot and the truck continued westbound on route 513 and Falleni stopped to chase the passenger.

While beginning his foot pursuit, the suspect vehicle turned around and fled back eastbound, passing and narrowly missing Falleni and the patrol vehicle, police said.

The passenger was caught and a search was conducted for the pickup truck, police said.

According to authorities, during the search a man identified as Jesse Henry was located walking on County Route 513 near the Washington Township border and in his pocket were the keys for a Dodge Ram pickup and using the panic button the vehicle, officers were able to locate it behind a Washington Township home.

The vehicle was confirmed as stolen and Henry was also found to be in possession of crack cocaine and heroin, police said.

The vehicle was impounded and processed by the Washington Township Detective Bureau and the owner was notified and Henry was charged with Eluding, Receiving Stolen Property and two counts of possession of controlled dangerous substances. Henry was also issued summonses for Speeding, Failure to Keep Right and Reckless Driving and jailed in the Hunterdon County Correctional Facility pending his court appearance, police said.

The passenger was detained and eventually released, police said.

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