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Ariam Ante, a West New York resident, got into an argument with someone at the Lincoln Tunnel Motel, police said. When the person exited their vehicle, Ante drove his car directly at them, striking their legs and almost pinning them against another parked car, police said. Ante again drove at the victim, jumping the sidewalk and colliding into a brick wall, swiping the victim again, police said.
A fight then broke out between Ante and the victim in the parking lot, police said. After the two were separated, Ante entered his car and tried to strike the victim a third time, but missed and collided with a motel wall, damaging a door, police said. Ante also burglarized the victim's vehicle, police said.
Police then arrived to the scene and saw a silver Mercedes Benz with heavy front end damage, officers said. The driver of the vehicle then reversed his car and struck the officer's vehicle, causing minor damage, police said
Ante was charged with assault by auto, aggravated assault, two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, burglary and theft.
The Lincoln Tunnel Motel has developed a following on TikTok as manager Brian Arya documents what running a motel is like, even making an appearance on "The Kelly Clarkson Show," as he attempts to make renovations to the 60-year-old location.
This is not the motel's first brush with law enforcement. Last November, three people were arrested after a derogatory comment about someone's girlfriend resulted in a stabbing. North Bergen police said they respond to the hotel two to three times a day.
Over the last five years, police said they have responded to the motel 4,262 times, 107 calls for every room at the motel.
"The number of crimes that have been linked to the Lincoln Tunnel Motel are astounding," said Captain David Dowd. "Actors break into people’s cars, steal their property, their delivery packages, and commit all sorts of thefts in the immediate area and return to the motel to buy and use narcotics at the motel. It has gotten to the point that even area residents know the suspects by their first names and post on social media that they are breaking into cars and staying at the motel."
Police are actively searching for the victim. Anyone with information is asked to contact the North Bergen Police Department at 201-392-2141 or to leave an anonymous tip at tips@northbergepd.com.
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