Cop Dragged 50 Feet By Car On Route 22, Driver Charged With Aggravated Assault: Police

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ — An Irvington man was arrested after a Mountainside Police Officer was dragged from a car during a traffic stop on Tuesday, Mountainside Police Chief Joseph Giannuzzi said.

James McMillion, 38, of Irvington, was charged with numerous indictable offenses including aggravated assault on a police officer, eluding police and others.

On Oct. 3 at around 1 p.m., Mountainside Police Officer Nicholas Hussey saw a Hyundai Sonata being driven without a front New Jersey license plate and an inoperative rear brake light, said Giannuzzi.

A motor vehicle stop was conducted at Route 22 and Glenside Avenue with Police Officer Brendan Carlos arriving as a secondary or backup officer.

During the investigation, the driver, later identified as McMillion, could not produce a driver's license and while speaking to the driver outside of the vehicle conflicting information was given to the police officers as to the driver's real identity, said Giannuzzi.

McMillion then got back in the car ignoring officers' orders not to do so, said Giannuzzi.

Carlos tried to restrain McMillion from getting back into the car but McMillion then fled the scene at a high rate of speed dragging Carlos about 50 feet causing injury to the officer, said Giannuzzi.

The Mountainside Detective Bureau along with the Union County Prosecutor's Office, Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, and Springfield Police Department were able to identify the driver as McMillion.

McMillion was arrested by Mountainside Police Officers, and Union County Prosecutor's Office detectives in Irvington without further incident and charged.

The Mountainside Police are working with other police agencies who have an investigative interest in McMillion.

During the assault, Carlos suffered injuries to his extremities including having his right foot run over by the vehicle, said Giannuzzi.

Carlos has been treated at Overlook Hospital in Summit and released.

"The Mountainside Police wish to thank our partner agencies for their investigative assistance in bringing this suspect to justice," said Giannuzzi. "This is just another example of the inherent dangers the men and women in law enforcement face each day and how a low level traffic stop can lead to a high intensity encounter."

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