Robbery - Courier - Chase of Plainfield suspect ends with crash

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Courier News Online - Friday, May 5, 2006

"N. Plainfield car chase of Plainfield suspect ends with crash"
Cop crashes into civilian car after brakes fail while chasing robbery suspects.

By MARY ANN D'URSO
Staff Writer

A 21-year-old Plainfield man turned himself in to North Plainfield detectives Wednesday after fleeing an armed robbery and leading police on a car chase Tuesday night that ended with failed brakes and a crash, authorities said.

Police continue searching for a second suspect.

An unidentified North Plainfield police officer and a civilian driver were taken to the hospital after the brakes on the officer's patrol car failed, sending the car into the civilian's vehicle, authorities said Thursday. The officer and civilian were brought to Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, where they were treated and released, Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest said.

The crash is the second this year in North Plainfield that involved a police officer and brakes failing on a patrol car.

On Wednesday, North Plainfield police arrested Sherlon McKnight of 6 Johannis Place, Plainfield, and issued an arrest warrant for Shaheem Young of 503 Clinton Place, Piscataway. Both men were charged with first-degree armed robbery and second-degree eluding.

McKnight was being held at the Somerset County Jail on Thursday night and will likely be arraigned today, jail officials said. Forrest said McKnight's bail was $75,000.

At about 11:03 p.m. Tuesday, police received a report of an armed robbery in progress on Craig Place, a residential neighborhood in North Plainfield. At the scene, the victim told police he noticed a gold Chevy Impala parked on Duer Street with two men sitting inside, according to the prosecutor's office.

Forrest said the victim reported that Young exited the vehicle wearing a scarf that masked part of his face. Young pulled a semiautomatic handgun and pointed it at the victim, demanding he hand over his wallet and cell phone, according to the prosecutor's office. A witness who saw the robbery called police, authorities said.

After the robbery, Young got back into the Chevy and McKnight began to drive away from the scene, authorities said. As they fled, a marked North Plainfield police car arrived.

McKnight and Young did not stop when the officer activated his police car's emergency lights and sirens, and they abandoned their vehicle in the neighborhood of 7th Street and Hobart Avenue in Plainfield, authorities said.

The police car's brakes failed when the officer attempted to stop, and his car crashed into another vehicle not involved with the pursuit, authorities said.

On March 8, Watchung police Officer Matt Melchionda, 31, was fatally injured on Norwood Avenue in North Plainfield when he attempted to pass a minivan en route to a motor vehicle stop. As he moved into the oncoming lane to overtake the slow minivan, police said, that vehicle began to turn left, crossing in front of his 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. Melchionda's cruiser swerved, brushed against the minivan and skidded out of control before crossing to the opposite side of the street and hitting a tree, investigators found.

Authorities concluded several factors led to Melchionda's death, including temporary failure of the cruiser's anti-lock brakes.

The investigation into Tuesday's armed robbery is continuing, authorities said. Anyone with information about the armed robbery or the whereabouts of Young are asked to call North Plainfield police at (908) 769-2937, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Squad at (908) 575-3300 or the Crime Stoppers TIPS line at (888) 577-TIPS (8477). All calls are confidential.

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