NJSP Helicopter Helps Local Police Nab Reckless Racer
Lakewood, N.J. - A New Jersey State Police helicopter this morning helped to shut down a man’s repeated reckless race to work through several towns. Christopher Lane, 23, of Browns Mills was arrested and charged by Berkeley Township, Pine Beach and Beachwood police after he arrived at work in Lakewood shortly after 8:00 a.m. He was charged with seven counts of 2nd degree eluding and numerous motor vehicle violations and lodged in Ocean County Jail on $205,000 full cash bail.
Lane is accused of driving his green Kawasaki motorcycle through Berkeley Township, Pine Beach, South Toms River, and Beachwood in blatant disregard of numerous traffic laws and public safety on five days over the past week. Each time police observed him, he drove away at a high rate of speed. He is also believed to be a persistent toll violator on the Garden State Parkway.
Berkeley Township and Beachwood detectives worked with the State Police Aviation Unit to set up aerial surveillance over the area where Lane had been seen. After a short time in the air, the offending bike was seen racing up Route 9 near Ocean Gate Drive. He flipped his middle finger at police on the side of the road as drove past en route to the Garden State Parkway.
Lt. Tony Zedonek and Trooper II James Baranyay piloted the State Police helicopter with two local detectives providing direction. They followed Lane’s motorcycle from high above as it left the Parkway at Exit 91 in Brick and continued to a Monmouth Avenue building in Lakewood where he is employed as an electrician. The ‘eyes in the sky’ directed Beachwood Police to the location, where Lane was arrested.
Photos courtesy of Beachwood PD
![Christopher Lane](images/pr083012b_Lane.jpg) |
Christopher Lane |
![Kawasaki motorcycle](images/pr083012b_kawasaki.jpg) |
# # # |