Man Hits, Injures Westfield Cop With Car While Fleeing Traffic Stop: Police

WESTFIELD, NJ — An Irvington man was arrested for aggravated assault, eluding, and distribution of drugs after hitting and injuring an officer while fleeing a traffic stop and leading officers on a chase on Saturday, announced Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro.

At 8:28 p.m., Officer Donald Picciano stopped a silver Volkswagen on W. South Avenue at W. Broad Street after getting an alert from one of the police department's fixed license plate recognition cameras that the car had a rear license plate reported as stolen, said Battiloro.

The driver and only person in the vehicle was unable to provide Picciano with a driver’s license or any other identification or vehicle registration, said Battiloro.

The driver reportedly told police that the vehicle was previously stolen but then found and returned while missing one of its license plates.

During the stop, Lieutenant Lauren Maloney and Officer Irene Sarris, who were providing back-up help, saw a large quantity of packaged controlled dangerous substance(CDS) products in a cardboard box in the backseat of the vehicle, said Battiloro.

They told the driver to roll down the vehicle’s back window, but he placed the vehicle into drive and fled, hitting Sarris while doing so, said Battiloro.

Picciano chased the fleeing vehicle west on W. South Avenue into Scotch Plains but stopped the pursuit because of the suspect's reckless driving, said Battiloro.

The driver was later identified as Jhonathan A. Sorto-Ruiz, 20, of Irvington.

Sorto-Ruiz was charged with aggravated assault by eluding and eluding, both second-degree crimes, and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, a third-degree crime.

In addition to driving with a suspended license, Sorto-Ruiz was also charged with numerous traffic offenses, which included reckless driving, improper passing, and failure to observe a traffic control device.

An alert listing Sorto-Ruiz and his vehicle as wanted was transmitted to all Union County law enforcement agencies. The vehicle was later stopped on Saint Georges Avenue in Linden at 11:55 p.m. by the Linden Police. Sorto-Ruiz was one of two people present in the vehicle.

Picciano and Sarris went to the location of the traffic stop in Linden and arrested Sorto-Ruiz. He was searched by Picciano and found to have suspected CDS concealed on his person, said Battiloro.

Sorto-Ruiz was charged by the Linden Police Department with two counts of possession of CDS, one for possession of 42 units of suspected Oxycodone and one for possession of 90 units of suspected Xanax, both third-degree crimes, as well as two counts of possession of a CDS with intent to distribute, for the suspected Oxycodone, a second-degree crime, and for the suspected Xanax, a third-degree crime.

Sarris sustained injuries to her lower left leg and was treated at the Westfield Police Department by the Westfield Rescue Squad.

Sorto-Ruiz was committed to the Union County Jail pending further court proceedings.

Second-degree crimes generally carry a sentence of between 5 and 10 years in a state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree crimes generally carry a sentence of between 3 and 5 years in a state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.