Police: Man Charged With Drug Possession After Car Chase

A Saddle Brook man was charged with possession of heroin and reckless driving after allegedly leading police on a car chase in the Mountainview section of town, authorities said. 

Detectives from the undercover operations unit were conducting surveillance of the Stahl Plaza Shopping Center at approximately 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, when they noticed "suspicious activity" in the area, said Detective Capt. James Clarke.

Police saw two men enter a Chevy Cobalt and drive a short distance before one of the men quickly got out of the car, police said. The car then suddenly left the scene, Clarke said.

Believing that they had observed a possible drug transaction, the detectives followed the vehicle, Clarke said. Detectives attempted to stop the car on Fayette Avenue, but the driver sped up and refused to stop, police said.

The driver reached Fairfield Road and the Route 23 South service road and ran out of the car, Clarke said.

Police pursued the man on foot as he ran across the Route 23 pedestrian footbridge above the highway, to on Van Duyne Avenue, authorities reported.

Police caught up with William Petruccelli II, 22, of Saddle Brook, and arrested him on the church’s property, Clarke said. 

Police searched the church property and found a discarded bag containing crack cocaine and a crack pipe, along with an hypodermic needle and syringe and two glassine envelopes containing heroin, Clarke said.

Petruccelli, who was allegedly found to be under the influence of heroin, was charged with possession of heroin, reckless driving, possession of crack cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a needle and syringe, resisting arrest, eluding police, hindering apprehension, and being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, Clarke said.

He was also issued multiple motor vehicle summonses, Clarke said.

Unable to post a $2,500 bond, Petruccelli was remanded to the Passaic County Jail, police said.