WOW

Charge: Leading cops on chase

Saturday, February 28, 2009
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A Jersey City man who was acquitted of murder last year is back behind bars after allegedly leading police on a car chase onto the New Jersey Turnpike, officials said.

Jalil Spears, 22, of the Montgomery Gardens housing complex, was arrested at 7:54 p.m. on Thursday at Bergen and Bramhall avenues and charged with eluding police in a motor vehicle pursuit, reports said.

Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said that earlier in the week police officers tried to pull over Spears on a motor vehicle matter, but Spears drove away when they activated their flashing lights. He increased his speed and the officers pursued him onto the Turnpike Extension, where the chase was called off, DeFazio said.

But officers said they recognized Spears from his prior run-ins with the law and a warrant for his arrest was issued for eluding cops, DeFazio said.

On Thursday, during roll call at the West District Police Station, officers were told to keep their eyes open for Spears and they were given a description, leading to his arrest that night, reports said.

Spears was charged with felony murder in the death of Antwon Hill, 19, of Jersey City, who was fatally shot during a robbery attempt on Oct. 20, 2007, near the Montgomery Shopping Plaza, DeFazio said. On Oct. 9 last year, a jury acquitted Spears after deliberating less than an hour.

Spears made his first appearance on the eluding charge in Central Judicial Processing Court in Jersey City yesterday. His bail was set at $75,000 cash or bond and he was being held in the Hudson County jail in Kearny last night, officials said.