ICE Lodges Detainer Against Man Accused Of Causing Deadly Crash In West Deptford

WEST DEPTFORD, NJ — Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer Friday against a United Kingdom citizen accused of causing a deadly crash in West Deptford, authorities told Patch.

George Linard, 24, struck another vehicle while fleeing police, killing the other driver and seriously injuring several others, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. Linard is also accused of presenting a fraudulent ID with a fake name to law enforcement.

ICE has filed a detainer against the suspect, who was in the country illegally and has previously been deported, an agency spokesperson told Patch.

Immigration officials said "George Linard" is another alias, and the man's real name is Steve Peker. However, court and jail records identify him as Linard as of this writing.

Local authorities say Linard initially gave the fake name of "Steve Hall."

ICE lodged the immigration detainer with the West Deptford Police Department and the Salem County Correctional Facility, where Linard has been detained since he was arrested Nov. 10.

An immigration detainer is a request from ICE for law enforcement to keep a person detained for up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release so federal authorities can assume custody.

New Jersey limits law enforcement from collaborating with ICE, so it's unclear whether police or the jail will honor the detainer.

On Nov. 9, West Deptford police were called to a gas station about two intoxicated men, prosecutors said. At the location, the officers saw a white vehicle that matched the caller's description.

The vehicle left the gas station and got onto Hessian Road, authorities said. A West Deptford officer activated the emergency lights on their marked police car and tried to pull them over, prosecutors said.

The driver — later identified as Linard — sped away and crossed onto the wrong side of the road before hitting another car near the intersection with Red Bank Avenue, authorities said.

The driver of the other vehicle died in the crash, and their rear-seat passenger fractured their leg, according to prosecutors. Linard also sustained serious injuries, and his front-seat passenger suffered a dislocated hip.

Authorities haven't released the deceased driver's name as of Thursday. But the mother of one of the injured victims says they were driving for Uber.

Linard has been charged with second-degree death by auto, fourth-degree possessing a fraudulent government license, and two counts of fourth-degree assault by auto.

His attorney, Harley D. Breite, called the incident a "tragic situation."

"When all of the facts, including the police officers' responsibility, come to light, we will be in a better position for an honest and clear evaluation," Breite told Patch.

The state Attorney General's Office is also investigating the incident, since it involves an encounter with law enforcement.