BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

OCEAN TOWNSHIP — A Brick Township man is facing eluding and narcotics charges after leading township police on a car pursuit last week.

According to police, Stephen M. Somonski, 28, was traveling on Route 66 about 2:45 p.m. Dec. 18 when Patrolman William Crosta attempted to pull him over for a motor vehicle violation. The vehicle did not stop, according to police reports.

Crosta followed Somonski’s vehicle onto Green Grove Road and saw him throw what was believed to be a controlled dangerous substance from the car, police said. Somonski was alone in the car.

Police here ended their pursuit when Somonski’s car traveled into Tinton Falls and Tinton Falls police attempted to stop the vehicle without success, police said.

Somonski drove back to Ocean Township and reportedly drove through two jug handles in the wrong direction on Route 18 before a marked police car, operated by Sgt. Frank Sprague, aimed his car at the vehicle head on, forcing Somonski to pull over, police said.

Somonski reportedly ran into the woods and was captured by Sprague at the Route 18 and Deal Road intersection.

Police charged him with eluding, tampering with evidence, possession of crack cocaine, possession of narcotics paraphernalia and being under the influence of a controlled danger substance, police said.

According to police reports, he is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail, and charges are pending in Tinton Falls.