HANOVER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — A Morris County man was arrested after allegedly fleeing an attempted traffic stop in Hanover Township, according to police.
Jower Tavarez, 34, of Butler, was arrested Oct. 1 and charged with eluding police and obstruction following an incident that occurred Sept. 30.
According to police, an officer observed a driver holding a cellphone while operating a vehicle with an expired inspection sticker. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop by activating the patrol vehicle’s emergency lights and siren, but the driver allegedly entered Interstate 287 northbound and fled.
Police said the officer did not pursue the vehicle in accordance with department pursuit policies because the vehicle’s registration information had already been obtained and the driver could be identified.
An investigation determined that the registered owner was not driving the vehicle and that the operator was a mechanic who had been repairing it, police said. Authorities identified Tavarez as the driver but were initially unable to locate him because he did not answer his phone.
On Oct. 1, officers traveled to Butler, where Tavarez was taken into custody and transported to Hanover Township police headquarters for processing. He was charged with eluding police and obstruction before being released pending a court appearance.
