A traffic stop on Newark's West Market Street erupted into a multi-vehicle crash Monday evening after a 26-year-old Orange man allegedly rammed an unmarked state police SUV, traveled up an embankment and came back down, and struck several civilian cars before being caught on foot. Wolchney Gardere now faces 12 separate criminal charges tied to the chaotic pursuit.
According to Daily Voice, citing New Jersey State Police Trooper II Christopher Postorino, detectives with the State Police Crime Suppression North Unit stopped a black Ford Fusion driven by Gardere at approximately 5:43 p.m. Monday, according to the RLS Media report on the incident. The detectives had their emergency lights activated and wore vests marked police as they approached the Fusion on foot, per that account. Preliminary investigation indicates Gardere then rammed the front of an unmarked Dodge Durango state police vehicle as detectives closed in.
Chase Ends in Embankment Crash
Gardere fled on West Market Street after allegedly ramming the state police vehicle, RLS Media's reporting states. Police said the pursuit ended after Gardere lost control, struck several civilian vehicles, and traveled off the roadway up an embankment. Coming back down the embankment, he then struck an unmarked Dodge Charger state police vehicle, according to the outlet's account.
According to the New Jersey State Police 2017 pursuit analysis report, pursuits resulting in crashes increased 12% from 34 to 38, while pursuits resulting in injuries increased from 7 in 2016 to 16. According to the New Jersey State Police 2020 pursuit analysis report, pursuits resulting in crashes increased 86% from 29 to 54, while pursuits resulting in injuries increased from 14 in 2019 to 18 in 2020.
After the Ford was damaged, Gardere attempted to flee on foot, but state police detectives apprehended him following a brief chase, the same report notes. He was taken into custody in Newark and later lodged in the Essex County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Twelve Charges Span Three Degrees of Severity
Per Daily Voice's breakdown of the criminal complaint, Gardere faces second-degree charges for aggravated assault on a trooper and eluding; third-degree charges for resisting arrest by force, hindering apprehension, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute heroin, and intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school; and fourth-degree charges for resisting arrest by flight, obstruction, assault by auto, criminal mischief, and tampering with evidence. Authorities allege Gardere was in possession of heroin with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, according to RLS Media. The charges remain accusations, and the case is under investigation.
Under New Jersey statute N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2, eluding is normally a third-degree crime carrying three to five years in prison, but it escalates to second-degree — carrying five to 10 years and a statutory presumption of incarceration — if the flight creates a risk of death or injury to any person, according to Bramnick Law. Separately, under N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)(5)(a), even simple assault against an officer performing their duties is automatically upgraded to aggravated assault, a third-degree offense carrying three to five years if the officer suffers bodily injury, per Villani & DeLuca, P.C. It remains an open question whether any troopers or civilian motorists were physically injured in the collisions, a detail that would directly affect the severity of that charge. In a 2020 decision, the New Jersey Appellate Division explained that knowingly fleeing or attempting to elude an officer can constitute second-degree eluding when the conduct creates a risk of death or injury, according to State of New Jersey v. Luis A. Lora. A 2017 New Jersey Appellate Division decision noted that N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2(b) contains a permissive inference that flight or an attempt to elude creates a risk of death or injury.
School-Zone Drug Charge Carries Mandatory Prison Time
The alleged heroin-related charge tied to a school zone is among the charges filed against Gardere. The reports identify possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school property as an allegation in the case.
Prior Theft Charges and Warrants
Gardere was 18 when he faced theft charges and had $1,250 in outstanding warrants. The available material does not establish the additional details of a later Orange Police arrest.
The available material does not establish another Orange Police arrest or a broader pattern of obstruction charges and unexecuted municipal warrants spanning multiple Essex and Union County jurisdictions.
What Happens Next Under Bail Reform
Gardere was lodged in the Essex County Jail pending a detention hearing. Under New Jersey's Criminal Justice Reform Act, cash bail was largely eliminated in 2017 in favor of a Public Safety Assessment framework, with detention decisions based on risks including flight and community safety, according to New Jersey Courts. A judge will weigh flight risk, community safety, and Gardere's prior record in deciding whether he remains held ahead of trial.
The stop was carried out by the State Police Crime Suppression North Unit.
