Police: Drunken North Jersey Man Tried Running Over Cop, Resisted Arrest

A Sparta man is lodged in Sussex County Jail after allegedly attempting to run over a police officer with his SUV before damaging a patrol car, smashing a mailbox and fighting with police, Sparta Sgt. Dennis Proctor announced.

Sparta police were notified of an erratic motorist on Route 15 north just after 10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, Proctor said. Sgt. Jeff Mase, on patrol, positioned himself at the jug handle near the railroad tracks at mile 14 to observe traffic, Proctor said.

When a group of vehicles approached, one motorist stopped behind Mase’s vehicle, and another flagged down the Sgt., Proctor said. Upon speaking with the driver, Mase was told the erratic driver had just pulled behind the officer’s patrol car, Proctor said.

Mase then approached the vehicle, a 2006 Toyota Sequoia, and told the driver to remain stopped, Proctor said. The driver, later identified as Jeffrey Ramirez, 23, stepped on the gas toward Mase, forcing the officer to dive out of the way and onto the pavement, Proctor said. As a result, Mase injured his back and neck, Proctor said.

Fleeing the scene, Ramirez allegedly struck the patrol car, sideswiping the entire length of the vehicle, Proctor said.

Ramirez then disregarded a red traffic signal, nearly collided with another vehicle at the intersection, and fled south on Lafayette Road, Proctor said.

Despite Mase’s condition, he was able to determine Ramirez fled onto Skyview Drive, less than a mile from the scene, Proctor said. He then found the vehicle had hit a mailbox and drove onto the lawn of a home on that road, Proctor said.

Backup units arrived at the home with Mase, who was approached by Freddy Ramirez, 53, the homeowner and Jeffrey Ramirez’s son. The older Ramirez became uncooperative, and police then applied for a search warrant after being denied access into the home, Proctor said.

When the homeowner tried to regain entry to his home against police orders, he was placed under arrest but resisted violently, Proctor said. As a result he claimed he injured his leg and head, Proctor said.

A search warrant was obtained and police then entered the home, where they found Jeffrey Ramirez hiding in a closet, Proctor said. The man was highly intoxicated and fought with police when they attempted to take him into custody, Proctor said.

Both Jeffrey and Freddy Ramirez were taken to Newton Medical Center. The elder was treated for injuries and the younger had a blood sample drawn per court order.

Mase suffered neck, back, and shoulder injuries from the incident and is currently out of work, Proctor said.

Jeffrey Ramirez was charged with eluding a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault by auto against a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident with injury, failure to report an accident, reckless driving, disregard of a traffic signal, failure to maintain lane, and disregarding an officer’s signal. He is lodged on $78,500 bail with no 10-percent option.

Freddy Ramirez was charged with obstruction of the administration of the law, hindering apprehension of another, and resisting arrest. He was processed and released on his own recognizance.

More charges are pending, Proctor said and the vehicle has been seized by the Sparta police.

Pictured: Jeffrey Ramirez, 23, of Sparta. Photo Courtesy Sparta Township Police Department.

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