Michael Williams, 43, led police on a wild chase through Trenton before his Jeep burst into flames
TRENTON - A Trenton man faces a litany of charges after he led police on a high-speed chase through South Trenton Tuesday that ended when he hit a traffic light and his Jeep burst into flames, police said.
Michael Williams. Michael Williams, 43, was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, assault with auto, weapons charges, driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident, making terroristic threats, eluding, resisting arrest, obstruction, reckless driving, careless driving, being an unlicensed driver, driving on a suspended license, failure to stop at a stop sign, failure to maintain a lane, driving the wrong way on a one-way street and having an open container of alcohol in a car, Lt. Stephen Varn said.
Police were called to the 900 block of Lamberton Street around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday after a woman in a house there said there was a man outside in a red Jeep who threatened to shoot her, Varn said.
Williams and his girlfriend had an argument earlier and Williams had returned to the house and called the woman, allegedly threatening to kill her if she did not let him in, Varn said.
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Police arrived and saw the red Jeep and Williams inside, Varn said.
Williams jumped in the vehicle and sped off. Police went after him.
Williams drove through a stop sign at Lamberton and Cass streets, and officers turned on their emergency lights, trying to stop him, Varn said.
On the 100 block of Lexington Street, Williams pulled over, Varn said.
Police ordered Williams to put his hands outside the driver's side window. He complied, initially. But as officers approached, he sped off again, Varn said.
The chase went through South Trenton.
At South Warren Street, Williams drove at a police car, narrowly missing the cruiser at South Warren and Market streets, Varn said.
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Williams' Jeep then hit another car on the Route 1 off-ramp at South Warren Street. He continued on, Varn said.
Williams then tried to turn onto the Route 1 north ramp, but lost control and hit traffic light and his Jeep got stuck on the center median, Varn said.
As officers approached, Williams got out of the Jeep and ran, Varn said.
At gunpoint, officers ordered Williams to stop.
He did not.
He told officers that they would have to kill him. He continued running, grasping his waistband, Varn said.
Williams eventually stopped, let go of his waistband and faced the officers, who ordered him to the ground. He continued to resist arrest, struggling with officers who were able to eventually place him under arrest, Varn said.
Blocks away, Williams' Jeep had burst into flames during the foot chase. Firefighters were called and the fire was extinguished quickly, Varn said.
Williams, who suffered a back injury and a broken nose, was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton for treatment. No gun was found, Varn said.
Williams was arrested in January for threatening to burn a girlfriend's house down on Dec. 20. Williams poured gasoline on the porch of the house but did not light it, police said.
It was unclear Wednesday if the girlfriend was the same in both incidents.
Williams in the December incident was charged with aggravated arson, child endangerment, simple assault and two outstanding warrants. He was jailed in lieu of $75,000 bail, according to police records.
Williams' bail information was not immediately available for this incident.
Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.