Newark Man Indicted on Charges from Summer Police Chase in Freehold

A Newark man that went on a crime spree throughout Monmouth County over the summer has been indicted on multiple charges, according to Monmouth County court records.

Patrick A. Brown, 39, from North 4th Street, was indicted on November 12 at Monmouth County Superior Court in Freehold for charges related to a theft that occurred from a Middletown residence on July 23, 2014. Brown was indicted for third degree theft, after taking jewelry valued in excess of over $500 from a victim listed as “S.F.”, as well as fourth degree credit card theft after stealing a Citibank Visa Credit Card belonging to the same victim, records show.

The jewelry was a gold and diamond engagement ring, worth over $11,000.00, according to the Two River Times.

Brown was also indicted on the credit card theft, with Third Degree Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card. According to court records, Brown used the stolen card on July 23 and July 24 in McDonald’s, Target, Dunkin Donuts, Auto Zone, and Delta Gas in Old Bridge in Middlesex County, and North Bergen in Hudson County.

According to court records, Brown continued his crime spree throughout Monmouth County a few days after using the stolen credit card. On July 30, a Freehold officer, listed as “M.D.”, attempted a traffic stop on Brown, who refused to stop, and then after a car chase, resisted arrested attempted by ”M.D.” and a second officer, named “T.H.” on records. On November 12, Brown was also indicted for charges related to the incidents in Freehold, which included: second degree Eluding Arrest, for knowingly fleeing and creating risk of death of injury to himself and another; fourth degree Resisting Arrest by flight; and third degree Resisting Arrest by using or threatening to use physical force or violence on the police officers.

After the July 30 incident, Brown was arrested on August 1 by Middletown Township Detective Keith Hirschbein for the theft of the jewelry and the credit card, as well as running down an off-duty Woodbridge cop, named as Mark Saldutti.

According to the Two River Times, Officer Saldutti was in plain clothes at the time, but had identified himself as a police officer to Brown and attempted to arrest him, at which point Brown is alleged to have hit Saldutti with a car, causing bodily injury.

Brown was charged at the time with Theft, Credit Card Theft, Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer, and Simple Assault with a Motor Vehicle. He was held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institute on $100,000 bond with no 10% option, set by Judge Richard Thompson.