Crime & Safety

Court Papers Charge Flemington Man with Assaulting Officers

After a dramatic take-down at Hillsborough's busiest intersection, man faces counts of resisting arrest, eluding police and aggravated assault.

Paul Starosciak, 60, of Flemington, was charged with assaulting officers, resisting arrest and eluding police after a chase on Route 206 that ended in a dramatic take-down by police, Wednesday.

According to a complaint filed in Superior Court Thursday, the incident started when a 2007 Infiniti SUV driven by Starosciak cut-off a Hillsborough police car driven by Ofc. Richard Yock at about 4 p.m. Wednesday, near the Belle Mead Garage.

Yock said he turned on his lights and siren and Starosciak suddenly hit his brakes in traffic, causing the police officer to quickly pull off the road to avoid hitting him.  Starosciak then allegedly sped away, with Yock in pursuit.

Starosciak then pulled over near the Audio Cafe, but took off again as Yock was exiting his vehicle. He pulled over again further north on Route 206, but reportedly began cursing and threatening the officer when Yock approached his vehicle, according to the affidavit.

Yock tried to open the door of the vehicle to turn off the ignition, and said Starosciak struck him—at which point, Yock said he told Starosciak he was under arrest and sprayed him with pepper spray.

Starosciak took off again, police said, this time nearly hitting another police vehicle at Hillsborough Road. According to Yock's statement, he did not catch up to Starosciak until he reached Amwell Road, where he found Starosciak engaged in fighting with officers Richard Stellitsch and another police officer.

Witnesses at the crowded intersection reported seeing the officers making several attempts at getting Starosciak to step out of his vehicle. According to one witness, officers broke the window of his SUV and had to pull him from the vehicle.

He was taken into custody and has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, eluding police and resisting arrest. He was released on $15,000 bail, with a 10 percent cash option.


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