At 2:26 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29, East Brunswick Police Officer Ryan Welch was patrolling Highway 18 southbound near Tices Lane when he saw a white Honda with "fictitious license plates," police said.
A motor vehicle stop was initiated, but the suspect vehicle attempted to flee from the officer. Believing the vehicle might be stolen, Welch pursued the suspect onto Cranbury Road. The driver stopped the vehicle, placed it in reverse, and struck Welch’s patrol car, police said.
During the commotion, local area schools were placed into shelter-in-place to ensure safety, police said.
The suspect vehicle continued to flee and ultimately turned onto Deerfield Road, where the driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot, police said. He was taken into custody by officers after a brief foot chase.
While being taken into custody, the suspect continued to resist arrest, police said.
Officer Welch received medical treatment for injuries. The suspect was taken to Raritan Bay Hospital in Old Bridge for an evaluation and to treat injuries, police said.
The driver, George W. Noonan, 37, from Laurence Harbor, was charged with aggravated assault, eluding, residing arrest and driving while intoxicated, police said. Noonan also had active warrants from Middlesex County and Old Bridge, they said.
Noonan's passenger, Kellymari T. Gangi, 30, of Laurence Harbor also was found to have an active warrant from Middlesex County, police said.
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