Pleasantville Men Charged With Drug and Weapons Offenses After Attempting to Elude Police

PLEASANTVILLE – Two Pleasantville men have been charged with drug and weapons offenses after attempting to elude police during a motor vehicle stop last night, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.

Shortly after 8 p.m. last night, Pleasantville Police attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop of a Lexus headed westbound on Delilah Road.

The vehicle, driven by Ronald Garner, 33, of Pleasantville, did not pull over after being signaled to do so and attempted to flee from police. As the vehicle was fleeing, it collided with the rear of another vehicle and then made contact with a sign on the side of the road. There was no injury to the driver of the second vehicle.

The impacts with the other vehicle and the sign disabled the Lexus near the intersection of Delilah Road and Mill Road. Garner and the sole passenger of the Lexus, Troy Sanchez, 18, abandoned the vehicle and attempted to flee from police on foot.

A Pleasantville police officer continued to follow Garner, while an Atlantic County Sheriff’s Officer, who is currently assigned to the Pleasantville Police Department, attempted to apprehend Sanchez.

Garner allegedly brandished a firearm at the Pleasantville Police Officer during the course of the chase. Garner was subsequently struck by a Pleasantville patrol vehicle. He was taken into custody and transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. At what point during the course of events Garner sustained his injuries remains under investigation.

Sanchez fell while attempting to flee from police and was apprehended by the Sheriff’s Officer.

Officers located a second handgun inside the disabled Lexus.

Garner has been charged with second degree possession of a handgun, second degree eluding police and second degree possession of a weapon by persons not to possess a handgun. He will be lodged at the Atlantic County Justice Facility on $100,000 bail following his release from the hospital.

Sanchez was charged with second degree possession of a weapon and third degree possession of heroin. He has been lodged at the Atlantic County Justice Facility on $50,000 bail.

This collision is under investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Crash Investigations Unit.

Anyone witnesses to this crash are urged to call Crash Investigations Unit Detective Jim Rosiello at 609-909-7692 or Sgt. Kevin Hincks at 609-909-7667.

***These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.