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One of the occupants tried running after the car became disabled but quickly caught about a block from police headquarters, Police Chief James O’Connor told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
Officer James Goral first stopped the speeding gold 2008 BMW — which bore a phony temporary license plate — on eastbound Page Avenue near Route 17 around 2 p.m., O’Connor said.
The driver pulled the car to the side of the road at Schuyler Avenue but then hit the gas, made a U turn and headed west on Page Avenue after Goral got out of his police cruiser, Capt. John Valente said.
The BMW nontinued up to northbound Ridge Road, then west onto Valley Brook Avenue and north onto Delafield Avenue.
As other police cars converge, the driver lost control of the speeding car, which hit a small tree, Valente said.
Officers ordered the three occupants out, but the driver acclerated in reverse, the captain said.
The Beamer hit the bumper of a police car before finally stopping in the 300 block of Weart Avenue, he said.
Officers immediately arrested two passengers, as the driver took off on foot through several backyards.
Officer Philip Reina and Detective Lemanowicz caught him on Lincoln Avenue, Valente said.
No immediate imjuries were reported. Damage to the police vehicle was minor, the captain said.
Police seized several altered and phony credit and debit cards, along with a small amount of marijuana, he said.
The driver, 23-year-old Christopher Johnson of Bayside, Queens (above, far left), was being held on $40,000 bail.
His passengers — Shearwood Michel, 25, of St. Albans, Queens (far right) and 22-year-old Dwayne Thompson (middle), listed only as from New York City — were being held on $37,500 each.
Charges include aggravated assault, eluding, hindering, resisting arrest, counterfeiting, identity theft and drug possession, Valente said. Johnson also received several motor vehicle summonses.
MUGSHOT: Courtesy LYNDHURST PD
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