4-8-16 PURSUIT AND ARREST

On Friday, April 8th 2016 at approximately 2100hrs the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department received a cellular 9-1-1 call from a motorist advising that their vehicle was struck by another vehicle that fled the scene. The incident occurred in the area of Interchange 7 in Rockland County NY and they were following the vehicle southbound on the Palisades Interstate Parkway in NJ.   Officers set up at various locations to locate the vehicle, identified as a black Dodge Charger being followed by the victim.

P.O. Michael Griffin #382 observed the vehicle southbound on the Parkway prior to interchange 1 and attempted to stop the vehicle when it fled. Officer Griffin pursued the vehicle off of the ramp to Fletcher Ave into Fort Lee. The vehicle continued to elude through local streets as Fort Lee Police joined the pursuit to assist. The vehicle then entered the lower level of the George Washington Bridge and stopped shortly after the toll plaza on its own. The operator, later identified as Mr. Michael DePalma a 38 year old white male of Nanuet NY, was placed into custody by officer Griffin and the assisting officers. Mr. DePalma received minor injuries during the arrest and was transported to Englewood Hospital where he was later released and lodged in the Bergen County Jail. While on scene officers recovered Xanax, cocaine and a straw used to inhale the cocaine inside Mr. DePalma’s vehicle.

Mr. DePalma was charged with the following:

2C:29-2B              Eluding

2C:39-1A              Obstructing the administration of law

2C:35-10A1         Possession of Xanax

2C:35-10A1         Possession of Cocaine

2C:35-10B            Under the influence of narcotics

2C:36-2                 Possession of narcotic paraphernalia

39:4-50                 Driving under the influence of narcotics

$50,000 bail with 10%.

Charges from NYSP Haverstraw Station are pending.