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Correcting erroneous reports by other area news media, police told Daily Voice early Friday that the chase began on Mount Pleasant Avenue, when a Clifton officer spotted an SUV driven by a man wanted for hitting a Verona officer with it earlier in the day.
As the officers moved in, 24-year-old Alex Kashani of Clifton jumped into the SUV, Lt. Robert Bracken said.
"He rammed a responding unit with his vehicle several times, pushing it out of the way, then took off across a grass lawn," Bracken said.
Kashani drove to Allwood Road and then to Broad Street, where he sideswiped a civilian's car, the lieutenant said.
The chase continued through Bloomfield to Montclair, where Kashani rammed one of the lead police cars, Bracken said.
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NOTE: A portion of the chase and its aftermath were captured on video by Mark Rosetti (see above).
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The pursuit continued onto Park Avenue and then to Gordonhurst Avenue in Montclair, where Kashani's SUV struck a parked vehicle.
That sent the SUV spinning into another police car.
Officers pulled him out and took him into custody.
Kashani, who remained hospitalized under police guard, was charged with several counts of aggravated assault on police, assault by auto, eluding and criminal mischief.
A court hearing was being set.
Bracken, meanwhile, praised Montclair police for their assistance.
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