PARSIPPANY — Montville Township Police, Boonton Police, Morris County Park Police and New Jersey State Police aided in the pursuit of an alleged drunk driver who led Morris County Park Police across three towns in a disabled vehicle before his arrest.
Sergeant Edward Koster was patrolling The Tourne, Boonton, at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Saturday when he noticed a car parked in the lower parking lot near the ballfield.
Koster noticed a man with his legs hanging out of a vehicle’s windows even though it was raining. Sergeant Koster made contact with the sole occupant, Orest Lopadchak, 37, of Somerset.
As Koster approached the vehicle, the man brought his legs back into the car, acted nervous, and was motioning as though he was trying to hide something in the center console. Mr. Lopadcha then put the vehicle into “drive” and took off bouncing over a concrete parking stop in the process.
Lopadcha ensued was a slow-speed pursuit as the officer attempted to catch up. Lopadcha turned onto Powerville Road, turned right onto Rockaway Valley Road, and that road becomes Taylortown Road in Montville Township. At that time, the Black Mercedes blew out a tire. Still, the pursuit continued.
Lopadcha turned right onto Main Road/Route 202, got onto Route 287, proceeded to Exit 42, Parsippany, and used Route 202 to get onto Route 80.
The man stopped in the travel lane of Route 80 West, at Exit 42 A-B (Cherry Hill Road), got out of his car, and tried to run down a grassy hill. Park Police and New Jersey State Police caught him and arrested him.
The driver, Orest Lopadchak, 37, Somerset, was charged by the Morris County Park Police Department with Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (suspected crack-cocaine), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Eluding, Assault on Law Enforcement Officers, and Resisting Arrest.
Lopadchak was transported to Morristown Medical Center for observation by Rockaway Neck Volunteer Ambulance Squad.
Upon being released from the hospital, Mr. Lopadchak was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility. Morris County Park Police Department officers, Patrolman Casey Petrocy and Patrolman Christian DiGiralomo, were treated at the scene by Parsippany Emergency Medical Services for minor injuries and released.
A follow-up investigation is being conducted by the Morris County Park Police Department Detective Bureau, and further information may be released at a later time.
Editors Note: A previous article Parsippany Focus reported that the vehicle was stolen, and at this time we believe that information was incorrect.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
