KEARNY —
A 43-year-old town man is facing numerous charges — including DWI, assault by auto and theft of a motor vehicle — after he allegedly ran down a pedestrian and left her lying in the middle of Davis Ave.
Police said the suspect was later found hiding under a van in a parking lot a few blocks away.
The accident report came into the KPD at 1:20 a.m., May 29. Officers Chris Manolis, David Bush and Jonathan Dowie responded to the 100 block of Davis, where they found a 53-year-old Kearny woman in the street, bleeding heavily from a gash in her forehead, police said. Kearny EMS and MONOC ALS (Advanced Life Support) were both called to the scene, and the victim was transported to University Medical Center, Newark.
According to police, witnesses said the woman was among several people exiting a car when she was struck by a southbound silver Infiniti, which “briefly pulled over a distance away.” The driver reportedly got out, “said he was sorry and then left the scene.”
One of the witnesses took a cellphone photo of the vehicle — and its license plate — as it was fleeing.
Police said the Infiniti was found to be registered to a Kearny woman who, when contacted at her home by Capt. David Feldhan and Officer Sean Podolski, stated she had not given anyone permission to use the car, but that it might have been taken by a co-worker and might be near a local business.
A BOLO was issued, and a short time later Officer Bush spotted the vehicle in a lot at Davis and Hoyt St.
Bush, Feldhan, Dowie and Sgt. Jack Corbett searched the property, and Dowie reportedly found Aldo Escobar of Kearny hiding under a parked van. Police said Escobar fled — right into the waiting arms of Feldhan, who was on the other side of the van.
According to police, the suspect had both the car keys and an aroma of alcohol and was so unsteady on his feet that field sobriety tests could not be performed.
Escobar was given an Alcotest at HQ and subsequently charged with: DWI, DWI in a school zone, reckless driving, failure to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in bodily injuries, being an unlicensed driver, assault by auto, endangering an injured victim, burglary (for allegedly taking the car without consent), and theft of a motor vehicle.
