Kamal Ghorui
A 38-year-old Indian-origin man, Vishal Bhatt, was arrested in a surprising turn of events that started with him calling the police department first. According to East Rutherford Police in New Jersey, Bhatt called the police department to complain about a ticket he received on January 28. The comments that he was making over the call did not seem quite right to the officer attending the call and some officers were sent for a welfare check to his address. When the officers arrived, they found Bhatt sitting inside his car. He started the car when he saw the cops and fled the scene. There was a brief chase but Bhatt ran through a stop sign, improperly passed a vehicle, and almost hit another vehicle putting all those on the road at that time at risk. The officers stopped the chase but Bhatt himself called the department several times and bragged about how he escaped the cops. A day later, on January 30, Bhatt was located in Clifton and was arrested. He has been charged with eluding police as well as numerous motor vehicle offenses, including unsafe operation of a vehicle, unsafe lane changes, failure to stop for an emergency vehicle, failure to possess a driver’s license or insurance and speeding across a sidewalk. He was transported to Bergen County Jail, reports detailed. “Once Mr Bhatt saw the police officers, he sped off and ran through a stop sign. He then improperly passed a vehicle and almost hit an oncoming vehicle. Officers attempted to initiate a motor vehicle stop but Vishal accelerated at a high rate of speed illegally passing several vehicles putting the motoring public at risk,” Capt Jeff Yannacone said in a release. “Officers terminated all attempts to stop Vishal but were able to positively identify him as the driver of the vehicle.” Following the incident, Bhatt called the police department several times and began “bragging” about being able to elude police, Yannacone said.
