Mercer Cops Dragged By Car As They Try To Detain Man Who Stole Vehicle

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — One police officer broke his wrist and another suffered injuries when they were dragged by a car while trying to detain a man who had stolen the vehicle, Hamilton Police said.

On Friday, around 10:51 a.m., officers were dispatched to the Hamilton Train Station on a report of stolen vehicle. The white Mercedes Benz had been stolen in Newark earlier in the day injuring officers when it fled the scene, police said.

On arrival, officers found the vehicle in the parking lot of the train station. When they approached the car, they saw a man lying in the driver's seat with a blanket covering him, police said.

Officers unlocked and opened the driver door in an attempt to detain the man when he put the vehicle on drive, and stepped on the gas ignoring officers' commands to stop and exit the vehicle, authorities said.

Two Officers were dragged to the ground, and the man fled at a high speed onto I-295 South. The man was identified as Azeem Mark, 21, of Piscataway.

One Officer suffered a broken wrist, the other had minor injuries. They were taken to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital where they were treated and released, police said.

Mark and the vehicle were later located in Philadelphia where he was placed under arrest.

Mark was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of weapon, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, resisting arrest and obstructing the administration of law. He is currently in the custody of the Philadelphia Police Department.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Dan Inman of the Hamilton Police Division Major Crimes Unit at (609) 581-4035 or the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at (609) 581-4008.

Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com