NJ State Police end 30-mile chase on Turnpike with ‘Stop Sticks’

EAST WINDSOR — A man who refused to pull over for a traffic stop led State Police on a 30-mile pursuit down the New Jersey Turnpike on Sunday.

State Police Sgt. Jeff Flynn said an officer tried to stop a Ford SUV driven by Sean Orgel, 45, of Randolph, Massachusetts around mile marker 65 in East Windsor around 9:30 a.m.

He was followed for about 30 miles to near Exit 4 in Mount Laurel "at varying speeds" where officers used tire-deflation sticks to end the pursuit. He did not specify a speed.

"When a tire goes over a Stop Stick, picture a straw. It'll go in the tire and slowly let the air out. A car running over a Stop Stick isn't going to blow the tire out and cause someone to lose control ... the tires will slowly deflate and disable the vehicle," Flynn said.

No other vehicles were involved in the pursuit.

Under New Jersey police vehicular pursuit policy an officer may use an authorized device to deflate a tire during a pursuit that results in a controlled deflation and then be removed or deactivated immediately after it's used. A supervisor must approve its use

Orgel was arrested and charged with eluding and other traffic summonses, according to Flynn.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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