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DWI ex-con in Upper Saddle River police chase, Ridgewood crash held on $100,000 bail

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: A Newark ex-con who fought with police after a DWI stolen-car chase on Route 17 ended in Ridgewood last night was being held on $100,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail after being transferred from the hospital.

Photo Credit: Cliffview Pilot File Photo

Three officers were treated for minor injuries and released following the incident, which began around 11:15 p.m. when an Upper Saddle River police officer tried to stop 49-year-old Robert L. Hance of Newark for driving erratically, Lt. Edward Kane said this morning, confirming a CLIFFVIEW PILOT report from late last night.

A short, low-speed pursuit ended when Hance drove off the highway and the vehicle struck a curb near a Linwood Avenue construction site, the lieutenant said.

Hance bailed out and tried to run but was quickly caught, he said.

He then scuffled with the officers, Kane told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.

EMTs took Hance to Bergen Regional Medical Center in police custody. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Fatal Accident Investigation Unit was called out due to the extent of what at the time appeared to be more serious injuries, a law enforcement source with direct knowledge of the incident said.

Police also seized the the black 1986 Chevy Caprice sedan, which CLIFFVIEW PILOT reported last night was taken from the lot at Nutley Chevrolet and bore the license plate of a GMC truck out of Carlstadt.

Upper Saddle River and Ridgewood police charged Hance with three counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, two counts each of eluding and receiving stolen property and one each of resisting arrest, DWI and possession of burglary tools.

Records show Hance has two outstanding warrants, along with at least one weapons-related arrest.

Police from Ho-Ho-Kus and Waldwick assisted, Kane said.

CLIFFVIEW PILOT Correspondent Boyd A. Loving contributed to this article

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