UNION CITY, N.J. (1010 WINS) — A Hudson County sheriff’s officer is left with two broken knees after a Jan.6 DUI stop turned chaotic.
North Bergen resident D’Andre Velazquez, 21, was pulled over in his Nissan Maxima on Fifth Street and Palisade Avenue in Union City because officials said the car had tinted front windows and was missing a front license plate.
Velazquez had three passengers with him — Kenia L. Morales of North Bergen, Juan S. Lopez of Union City and a juvenile. When authorities brought Velazquez to their police cruiser, the passengers were told the car they were in would be towed at which point the juvenile took the keys and fled with Lopez and Morales.
While chasing the three passengers, a sheriff’s officer tripped and fell, injuring his knees. He was rushed into emergency surgery. His recovery is expected to take one to two years.
Officials said members of the sheriff’s department Detective Bureau found a handgun in plainview in the backseat of the vehicle.
The trio was caught when they returned later to retrieve the vehicle from the sheriff’s office headquarters.
The juvenile who snatched the keys was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, obstruction of administrative law, resisting arrest and weapons charges. He was taken to the Morris County Juvenile Detention Center.
The other three were charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, according to complaints.
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