Man charged with kidnapping Uber driver after fleeing Pennsylvania traffic stop, stopped in New Jersey by state police
HUNTERDON COUNTY, N.J. — A Connecticut man is facing multiple charges after allegedly kidnapping an Uber driver and transporting over 100 pounds of marijuana across state lines, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson announced Friday.
Drew A. Earlington, 27, of Manchester, Connecticut, was arrested on June 5 and charged with first-degree kidnapping, third-degree criminal restraint, first-degree possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to authorities, the New Jersey State Police Perryville Station was alerted by the Pennsylvania State Police about a suspect who had fled a motor vehicle stop in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. The suspect, later identified as Earlington, reportedly ordered an Uber driver to take him into New Jersey and unlawfully confined the driver during the trip in an effort to avoid apprehension.
The Uber driver was able to secretly alert authorities, and Perryville Troopers stopped the vehicle shortly after entering New Jersey. The driver informed troopers that Earlington had placed multiple bags into the vehicle after being picked up.
Upon searching the car, troopers located several duffel bags containing approximately 130 pounds of suspected marijuana. Pennsylvania State Police later confirmed the same duffel bags were seen in the vehicle Earlington had driven prior to fleeing.
Earlington is currently being held at the Warren County Correctional Center pending a pretrial detention hearing scheduled for June 11 before Judge Christopher J. Garrenger. He is provisionally represented by Herminia Moreira, Esq., and the state is represented by First Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Paravecchia.
Anyone with information regarding the investigation is urged to contact the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office at (908) 788-1129 or provide an anonymous tip through Hunterdon County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-321-0010.
