Crime & Safety
Man Drunk Driving In Cranford Leads To Arrest: Police
Cranford Police pulled over the man for not wearing a seatbelt Thursday morning. Alcohol and crack-cocaine were later found in his car.
CRANFORD, NJ — Cranford Police pulled over an Essex County man for an equipment and seatbelt violation early Thursday morning, which eventually led to the discovery of crack-cocaine and alcohol in the man's car.
Officer Christopher Gross stopped 34-year-old Willie Toliver, who was driving a 2004 Ford Explorer, in the area of Centennial Avenue and Raritan Road. Gross then discovered Toliver was driving while intoxicated, which led to his eventual arrest.
When Gross saw an open container of alcohol in the passenger compartment of the car, he asked Toliver to step out of the vehicle. Toliver refused and quickly drove away.
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Because of the current motor vehicle pursuit policy that prevents NJ police from getting involved with potentially dangerous car chases, Gross did not pursue Toliver's car because it "did not meet pursuit criteria," Cranford Police said.
After Cranford Police radioed the vehicle's description, make, model and license plate to surrounding police agencies, Toliver's car was located by a Union County Police Unit in Rahway.
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Union County and Rahway Police officers detained and subsequently arrested Toliver. Police then found crack-cocaine and other drug paraphernalia inside the car.
Toliver was charged with 3rd degree eluding, 4th degree obstructing the administration of law, 3rd degree possession of CDS crack-cocaine, possession of CDS paraphernalia and driving while intoxicated.
In addition to these charges, Toliver was issued motor vehicle summonses for not wearing a seatbelt, driving while suspended, having CDS in a motor vehicle, having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, having improper safety glass and failing to provide credentials.
Cranford Police said at the time of his arrest, Toliver was awaiting commitment to the Union County Jail in Elizabeth pending a Superior Court Detention Hearing.
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