North Plainfield Police Department

Press Release

Chief William Parenti

June 1, 2009

North Plainfield Police Chief William Parenti announced yesterday that a 22 year old male resident of Haverstraw,New York, was arrested by borough police after a brief pursuit in a stolen motor vehicle.  On Sunday, May 31, shortly after 1:30 am police responded to a report that a vehicle was stolen from the parking lot of the 7/11 store on Route 22.  The vehicle operator went into the store and the passenger got out to throw something into a waste basket.  It was at that time the defendant Gregory Sanchez, got into the running vehicle and fled east on Route 22. 

A short time later the vehicle was observed by Sergeant Stopinski and Officer Branco in the vicinity of State Highway 22 into Scotch Plains.  When officers signaled for the vehicle to pull over, it took off at a high rate of speed. When the vehicle approached the Mountainside Police Department, a Mountainside police unit arrived and Sanchez pulled over and abandoned the car.  He was apprehended after a foot pursuit by Sergeant Stopinski, Officer Branco and Mountainside Police Sergeant Betyeman.  

Further investigation by Detective Segeda also linked Sanchez to a burglary of a motor vehicle in the parking lot of Quality Auto Glass at 650 Route 22 east, just a few hundred yards west of 7/11.  Sanchez was charged with third degree burglary; third degree receiving stolen property; third degree eluding police; fourth degree resisting arrest by flight; and disorderly person receiving stolen property.  Sanchez was remanded to the Somerset County Jail in lieu of $20,000.00 bail. 

Note:  We are required by the Rules of Court to include herein a statement explaining that the charges are merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.