Suspected porch pirate accused of hitting officer with car during traffic stop arrested in New Jersey
GLOUCESTER TWP, N.J. - A suspected porch pirate who police say hit an officer while fleeing a traffic stop in Camden County was taken into custody on Monday.
Ebony Gomez, 31, was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Monroe Township on several charges that stem from package thefts and eluding police twice in one day.
Police believe Gomez, a Florida resident, was captured on video stealing packages from at least three homes in Cherrywood and Mayfair Woods developments.
Officers on Friday caught up with Gomez's vehicle, a white Dodge Journey with a stolen license plate, during a traffic stop in Sicklerville last Friday.
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Investigators said Gomez had unrestrained children in the back of her vehicle when she fled the traffic stop, and was later found by police again on Parsons Court.
As officers approached her vehicle and gave commands to surrender, police say Gomez fled again and struck an officer with her vehicle.
"The officer pulled in, approached the vehicle to try to get the driver out of the vehicle, at that point she backed up and went forward, striking our officer, the officer went up onto the hood of the vehicle, then fell onto the pavement, and then the vehicle fled," Gloucester Township Police Captain John Stollsteimer said.
Police briefly pursued Gomez's car, but suspended the chase for safety concerns. The officer was brought to Cooper Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Gomez is charged with counts of 2nd degree eluding, endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer and theft.