NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—On January 1, city police found a 2002 BMW that had been stolen from Morristown after its driver was involved in a wreck on French Street.

According to police radio transmissions, police officers briefly chased the suspect who bailed out after crashing into a guardrail on French Street in between Sanford and Delavan Streets at about 11:20pm.

However, police lost track of the suspect who was last seen “in the backyards of Comstock Street heading towards Hale Street,” according to the transmissions.

Police scoured the neighborhood nearby, and another across the railroad tracks, for at least 45 minutes.  NBPD Captain JT Miller confirmed the incident resulted in the arrest of 29-year-old Eric Griffin of New Brunswick.

According to the transmissions, police thought the driver was more than likely injured and asked dispatchers to advise the city’s two major hospitals about the man they were seeking.

“The vehicle (2002 BMW) struck a guard rail and a utility pole,” wrote Miller.  “The driver was identified as Eric Griffin… He fled to leave the scene of the accident on foot and was located on Jersey Avenue where he was placed under arrest.”

Griffin was charged with driving while suspended, failure to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident and careless driving, according to Miller.

“The 2002 BMW was found to be stolen, and criminal charges are pending further investigation.”

Editor at New Brunswick Today | 732-993-9697 | editor@newbrunswicktoday.com | Website

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.