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Paramus officer Conner Nutland was responding to the meetup involving about 500 vehicles at the Sports Authority parking lot on Route 4 West when he saw a 2011 white Chevy Cruze parked in the adjacent Ikea parking lot around 1 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti said.
As Nutland approached, four males wearing ski masks entered the vehicle and began to flee. The driver, Derek Frick, of Easton, PA, tried to evade Nutland by driving out of the Ikea lot, crossing into oncoming lanes, and disregarding a traffic light, Guidetti said.
He eventually entered Route 17 South, where the vehicle slowed and came to a stop.
When Nutland approached the driver’s side, he noticed a black Glock handgun in the door, which was later identified as a replica BB gun. Frick was arrested and charged with eluding and possession of a weapon and issued multiple motor vehicle summonses. The three other occupants, all juveniles, were released to their guardians.
During Frick's arrest, Paramus officers monitored the dispersal of the car meet-up from the area.
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