Suspect arrested after calling police to 'brag' about eluding East Rutherford officers
Police have charged a 38-year-old Clifton man with multiple offenses.
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A Clifton man is facing multiple charges after leading East Rutherford officers on a chase, then calling headquarters to brag about being able to elude police.
According to East Rutherford Police, Vishal Bhatt, 38, called the police department to complain about a ticket he received on Jan. 28. Due to the comments he was making, officers were dispatched to his location for a well-being check, police said in a statement.
When officers arrived, they found Bhatt in a white Kia Rio. According to a statement, police said that when Bhatt saw the officers, he fled the scene in his vehicle.
"Once Mr. Bhatt saw the police officers, he sped off and ran through a stop sign. He then improperly passed a vehicle and almost hit an oncoming vehicle. Officers attempted to initiate a motor vehicle stop but Vishal accelerated at a high rate of speed illegally passing several vehicles putting the motoring public at risk," Capt. Jeff Yannacone said in a release. "Officers terminated all attempts to stop Vishal but were able to positively identify him as the driver of the vehicle." Following the incident, Bhatt called the police department several times and began "bragging" about being able to elude police, Yannacone said.
On Jan. 30, officers located Bhatt in Clifton and placed him under arrest.
He has been charged with eluding police as well as numerous motor vehicle offenses, including unsafe operation of a vehicle, unsafe lane changes, failure to stop for an emergency vehicle, failure to possess a driver’s license or insurance and speeding across aa sidewalk. He was transported to Bergen County Jail.
