The
man,
Jose
Rodriguez,
27,
was
being
sought
by
the
police
for
questioning
in a
nonfatal
shooting
on
Nov.
1,
and
was
also
wanted
on
charges
of
driving
while
intoxicated
and
parole
violation
in
connection
with
drug
sales,
said
Paul
J.
Browne,
chief
spokesman
for
the
New
York
Police
Department.
About
1:15
p.m.,
three
New
York
City
police
officers
assigned
to a
regional
fugitive
task
force
arrested
Mr.
Rodriguez
in a
Holiday
Inn
parking
lot
in
Fort
Lee.
The
officers
searched
him,
placed
him
in
hand
cuffs
and
leg
irons,
and
put
him
in
the
back
of
their
unmarked
police
car.
As
the
officers
proceeded
to
search
Mr.
Rodriguez’s
vehicle,
where
they
discovered
a
gun,
Mr.
Rodriguez
slipped
into
the
front
seat
of
the
unmarked
police
car
and,
using
his
knees
to
steer,
sped
away,
Mr.
Browne
said.
The police discovered the unmarked car, a silver Ford Fusion, about five miles away in Ridgefield with the leg irons and hand cuffs inside. Police were scouring the area around Ridgefield. Officials would not say where they believe Mr. Rodriguez may be headed because it is part of the investigation.
His last known address was in the Bronx. Police say he goes by the street name of “Flip,” and has at least seven prior arrests for charges including marijuana posession and robbery.