SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ – A man from Staten Island who was caught driving the wrong way down a one way street in Seaside Heights last summer has pleaded guilty to evading police and driving while intoxicated.
According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, Antwan McPhatter, 26, of Staten Island, New York, pled guilty to eluding, DWI, and leaving the scene of an accident.
According to the Seaside Heights Police Department, on August 19, 2021, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Officers from the Seaside Heights Police Department responded to the area of Blaine Avenue and the Boulevard for a report of a hit-and-run incident.
“The report indicated that a 2015 Jeep Cherokee crashed into an unoccupied vehicle and fled the scene. Seaside Heights Police Officers attempted to execute a motor vehicle stop of a vehicle matching the description of the Jeep Cherokee, traveling in the wrong direction on Sheridan Avenue,” police said. “As Officers activated their lights and sirens, the vehicle sped away at a high rate of speed – ultimately traveling northbound on Route 35. Officers observed the Cherokee make a right turn onto Beach Drive in Ortley Beach; the Cherokee then came to a stop at the end of Beach Drive but accelerated westbound towards Route 35.”
Police said the Cherokee then failed to stop at a stop sign, entered Route 35, and collided with a marked Seaside Heights Police vehicle.
“As a result, the Cherokee struck a utility pole, which fell on top of the vehicle. The driver of the Cherokee, identified as Antwan McPhatter, attempted to flee the scene on foot at which time he was apprehended,” the department said. “Two Seaside Heights Police Officers were transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where they were treated for minor injuries and released.”
McPhatter was transported to Community Medical Center, where a blood draw was taken from him pursuant to a court-authorized warrant.
Billhimer confirmed laboratory results of McPhatter’s blood draw – received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office in the course of the investigation – revealed that McPhatter was under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana at the time of the incident and was therefore unfit to operate a motor vehicle.