79° and Sunny
SOMERVILLE, NJ - On June 29, 2026, defendant Ashton B. Charles, age 31, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced by the Honorable Lance J. Kalik, J.S.C., to a term of five years in New Jersey State Prison, with 85% of the sentence to be served without eligibility for parole pursuant to the No Early Release Act. On May 8, 2026, the defendant entered guilty pleas to five counts of second-degree Causing Injury While Eluding or Operating a Stolen Motor Vehicle.
The charges are a result of a motor vehicle theft and eluding incident on June 1, 2025. Defendant, driving a stolen New York City taxicab, struck multiple New Jersey State Police vehicles, one Somerville Police Department vehicle, and one civilian vehicle. Fortunately, the involved Troopers, the Somerville officer, and the civilian reported relatively minor injuries.
That morning, at about 9:22 a.m., defendant Charles stole a Toyota Sienna minivan operating as a New York City yellow taxicab on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Defendant then drove the stolen taxi through Manhattan, Brooklyn, over the Verrazano Bridge to Staten Island, and over the Goethals Bridge into Elizabeth, New Jersey.
At approximately 11:15 a.m., officers of the Springfield Township police located the stolen taxi. The officers turned on their emergency lights and sirens and attempted to stop the defendant. The taxi stopped at a red light, and officers approached the taxi from both sides. Defendant then put the taxi in reverse, striking one officer with the passenger mirror.
Defendant then drove forward and began to elude the Springfield officers. After entering Route 24 West, the defendant drove at excessive speeds and passed other vehicles in a dangerous manner.
Defendant then took the ramp to Interstate 287 South toward Morristown. Defendant continued to drive at excessive speeds and nearly caused a collision with a tractor-trailer. Springfield officers terminated their pursuit and notified the New Jersey State Police.
Soon after, State Police Troopers located the defendant on I-287 South and activated their emergency lights and sirens. However, the defendant ignored the Troopers and continued driving. He wove through traffic, passed vehicles on the shoulder, and drove at 100 mph. He exited I-287 at Exit 17 onto Route 202 South. Defendant continued to elude Troopers through Bridgewater, Branchburg, and Readington. During this time, he drove at high speeds, weaved through traffic, through red lights, drove on the grass median, and knocked over a light pole.
Defendant continued into Raritan Township and Flemington. There, the defendant exited Route 202 onto Route 12. He then led Troopers to residential streets where he drove over a sidewalk onto a resident’s lawn.
The defendant soon after left the residential area and turned back toward Somerset County on Route 202 North. When the Troopers tried to box in the stolen taxi at an intersection in Branchburg, the defendant struck a State Police vehicle and a civilian’s vehicle to escape.
Troopers made additional attempts to box in the defendant’s vehicle and force him to stop. However, the defendant again dangerously weaved through traffic and ignored red lights. Defendant then drove over the median and straight into oncoming traffic on Route 202 South before steering back over the median onto 202 North.
After passing over the Somerville Circle, the defendant attempted to exit 202 North using the ramp for Route 22 East / Mountain Avenue in Somerville. With Troopers again trying to box him in, the defendant struck the rear and side of a State Police vehicle, causing extensive damage. Defendant then turned and struck another State Police vehicle on the right side, nearly causing the Trooper to crash into a guard rail.
After entering Route 22 East, the defendant again struck several State Police vehicles, causing those vehicles and the taxi to lose control and crash. This resulted in the defendant’s vehicle facing opposite traffic, where it collided with a Somerville Police vehicle. Defendant was arrested while attempting to run from the scene into a wooded area at approximately 12:25 p.m.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies, including Troopers of the New Jersey State Police, Somerville Station and Kingwood Station, the New York City Police Department, the Springfield Township (Union County) Police Department, the Flemington Borough Police Department, and the Somerville Borough Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor John R. Ascione.
More News from Raritan
- Mayor Neena Singh Wellness Team Recognized for Strong Showing at Run with Rotary News from Montgomery Township
- Life Time Bridgewater Makes a Splash with their HydraFacial - Skincare for Summer Hydration Lucy Miranda, Elite Esthetician at Life Time Bridgewater, Shares Insights into the popular treatment
