A Paterson NJ man has been accused of vomiting cocaine in his jail cell after being arrested by Lincoln Park NJ police.
According to police, a Lincoln Park officer patrolling Route 202 near Skyline Drive saw a white BMW, driven by Jimmy Espejo, weaving between lanes. The officer stopped the vehicle on Comly Road near the Lincoln Park Plaza. When the officer approached the car, Mr. Espejo drove away. Mr. Espejo then allegedly led the officer on a low-speed pursuit, which ended inside the Beaverbrook Garden Apartments complex.
While officers were attempting to arrest Mr. Espejo, he allegedly refused to listen to their commands. As a result, the officers used pepper spray on Mr. Espejo. Eventually, they handcuffed Mr. Espejo and took him to the Lincoln Park Police Department.
At the police department, Mr. Espejo was processed and placed in a holding cell. According to police, Mr. Espejo got sick and vomited in the toilet. When officers checked on him, they looked in the toilet and allegedly found several small plastic bags containing suspected cocaine.
Mr. Espejo was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, eluding police, resisting arrest, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, in addition to other charges.
Eluding a Police Officer Charges in Lincoln Park NJ
In New Jersey, aggravated assault on a police officer is governed under N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b). According to the statute, a simple assault charge, which is typically a disorderly persons offense, can be elevated to third degree aggravated assault when committed against a police officer. If Mr. Espejo is convicted of third degree aggravated assault on a police officer, he may face as many as five (5) years in New Jersey State Prison.
