East Orange Man Convicted of Rte 22 Police Chase

An East Orange man faces up to 10 years in prison for leading police in a violent chase with a stolen car on rte 22 in Springfield and Mountainside in 2009.

 According to a report from the Union County Prosecutor’s office, a police officer in Mountainside saw 31-year-old Ricardo Sudlow inside a car parked in the driveway of an unoccupied home under construction. When the officer approached, Sudlow reportedly sped away, steering the car onto Rte. 22 East near New Providence Road.

The original officer gave chase, and was joined by two other police cruisers on Rte. 22. Sudlow crashed into one of the cruisers, then lost control of the car. He hit a curb and flipped the car upside down.

Following the crash, Sudlow got out of the car and ran across all four lanes of Rte. 22 and escaped into the woods behind a shopping center. Police apprehended him a short time later.

Last week, after four hours of deliberation and a three-day trial, a Union County Court jury found Sudlow guilty of second degree eluding, third degree aggravated assault, third degree receiving stolen property and fourth degree resisting arrest.

He faces up to 10 year in prison when he is sentenced on April 14