It was a wild ride for one man after he allegedly stole a Margate police cruiser and eluded police from five different departments before he was arrested on the mainland Wednesday.
Christopher Sparks, 22, of Blackwood, allegedly stole the police vehicle a little after 10 p.m. Wednesday night when police were investigating a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Granville and Ventnor avenues.
Sparks was a bystander when he allegedly took the cruiser.
Police said Sparks drove toward Ventnor City on Ventnor Avenue. Ventnor police had been notified of the incident and located Sparks.
However, when they tried to stop Sparks, he turned around and drove through Margate and Longport before crossing the Longport Boulevard Bridge into Somers Point, police said.
It was then that Somers Point and Egg Harbor Township police got involved in the chase.
Somers Point Police Capt. Michael Boyd said Sparks drove over the bridge and entered into Somers Point at a “high rate of speed.”
Finally, in Somers Point, Sparks turned down a dead end street, Lashley Avenue, and fled from the vehicle on foot, police said.
Boyd said Sparks was arrested by Somers Point police with the assistance of Egg Harbor Township and Margate police. Egg Harbor Township police also brought a K-9 unit the scene.
Sparks was taken to Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point for minor dog bites he sustained, said Margate police.
Somers Point Sgt. John Barbieri sustained a shoulder injury during the incident after Sparks allegedly attacked him.
Sparks was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault criminal alluding, possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, driving while intoxicated and various motor vehicle charges stemming from failure to stop for police pursuing him.
Christopher Sparks, 22, of Blackwood, allegedly stole the police vehicle a little after 10 p.m. Wednesday night when police were investigating a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Granville and Ventnor avenues.
Police said Sparks drove toward Ventnor City on Ventnor Avenue. Ventnor police had been notified of the incident and located Sparks.
However, when they tried to stop Sparks, he turned around and drove through Margate and Longport before crossing the Longport Boulevard Bridge into Somers Point, police said.
It was then that Somers Point and Egg Harbor Township police got involved in the chase.
Somers Point Police Capt. Michael Boyd said Sparks drove over the bridge and entered into Somers Point at a “high rate of speed.”
Finally, in Somers Point, Sparks turned down a dead end street, Lashley Avenue, and fled from the vehicle on foot, police said.
Boyd said Sparks was arrested by Somers Point police with the assistance of Egg Harbor Township and Margate police. Egg Harbor Township police also brought a K-9 unit the scene.
Sparks was taken to Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point for minor dog bites he sustained, said Margate police.
Somers Point Sgt. John Barbieri sustained a shoulder injury during the incident after Sparks allegedly attacked him.
Sparks was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault criminal alluding, possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, driving while intoxicated and various motor vehicle charges stemming from failure to stop for police pursuing him.